Celebrated May 6-10, Economic Development Week recognizes and honors the dedicated work of economic developers and their contributions to communities around the world. The Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) presented its annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) Awards in late April, selecting Queen Creek’s Economic Development Director Doreen Cott as the Economic Developer of the Year, Medium Community. She was presented the award at the May 1 Town Council meeting.
Cott was pivotal in securing a historic $5.5 billion investment from LG Energy Solution for a battery manufacturing facility, the largest in North America, positioning Queen Creek prominently in the economic landscape. Under her leadership, Queen Creek established its first hotel and Costco, implemented a Small Business Grant program during the COVID-19 pandemic to help support local businesses, and developed the acclaimed Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre. Cott was also instrumental in the Town of Queen Creek's Economic Development Department achieving accreditation as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) in 2018, and re-accreditation in 2022.
“Economic developers attract and retain high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve quality of life. They also promote the creation, retention and expansion of jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. We have an outstanding economic development team, led by Doreen Cott. The recognition by AAED is well deserved and we could not be more proud of this accomplishment and all the incredible work Doreen contributes to our community,” said Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley.
For more information about Queen Creek’s Economic Development Department and investment opportunities in Queen Creek, visit InvestTheQC.com.
