FLX Gateway Earns National Accreditation from the International Economic Development Council

FLX Gateway has been recognized by the International Economic Development Council as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, or AEDO.

This accreditation places FLX Gateway among a select group of economic development organizations recognized by IEDC for professional excellence. According to IEDC, FLX Gateway is one of 99 economic development organizations accredited through the AEDO program.

“FLX Gateway displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.

For Schuyler County and the surrounding region, this recognition is more than a designation. It reflects the systems, partnerships, staff capacity, board leadership, and community commitment behind FLX Gateway’s economic development work.

What AEDO Accreditation Means

The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that evaluates economic development organizations against commonly held professional standards. The process includes two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit.

Those reviews examine the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.

In practical terms, AEDO accreditation tells local businesses, municipalities, community partners, and prospective investors that FLX Gateway’s work has been reviewed against national professional standards.

A Reflection of Local Commitment

“This accreditation is a direct reflection of the dedication of our staff, investors, and board, as well as the strong community partnerships that make our work possible,” said Jon Beckman, Chairman of FLX Gateway. “It gives our local business owners, municipality partners, and prospective investors total confidence that FLX Gateway is operating at the highest professional standard. For Schuyler County and the Finger Lakes region, it means continued momentum — stronger partnerships, greater investment, and sustained economic growth for the community.”

Economic development is not a single project or announcement. It is the steady work of helping businesses grow, preparing sites for investment, supporting local communities, connecting partners, pursuing funding, and moving projects from idea to implementation.

AEDO accreditation reinforces that FLX Gateway is doing that work with professionalism, accountability, and a long-term commitment to Schuyler County.

A Competitive Differentiator

As communities compete for investment, employers, funding, and project opportunities, credibility matters.

“It’s an honor to work with a board and community that are committed to excellence and national credibility,” said Judy McKinney-Cherry, Executive Director of FLX Gateway. “As one of only a handful of AEDO-designated organizations in the Northeast, this recognition is a clear, competitive differentiator for us.”

Maintaining AEDO status requires review every three years through documentation submission and/or onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee. That continued review supports ongoing accountability and continuous improvement.

Moving Forward

FLX Gateway’s AEDO accreditation recognizes the work already underway and strengthens the organization’s ability to support future growth.

Through business development, agricultural initiatives, workforce programs, site development, grant support, and community partnerships, FLX Gateway will continue working to strengthen the regional economy and create opportunities for long-term growth and prosperity.

See the full press release here: https://42f1b416-996a-405d-81a9-8fb1d06aaaca.usrfiles.com/ugd/42f1b4_38f891da4022423a99c2271bab022fd8.pdf