Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award

The Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Awards program celebrates NADO members’ efforts in advancing regional planning, economic development, and resilience. This award highlights significant achievements in the areas of infrastructure, community engagement, workforce development, emergency preparedness, local business support, human services, and much more.

The Impact Awards are named in honor of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director. For 24 years, she was a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.

Awards winners leverage their awards to provide regions with additional resources and to help explain the important work they do in service to local communities. NADO staff uses the award-winning projects to share these collective works on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies. They’re also used in peer-to-peer training and information sharing among membership.

Benefits for Impact Award Winners

Positive local and national attention

Award-winning projects gain national recognition via nado.org, NADO News, and are often featured in NADO Research Foundation reports and case studies.
NADO’s legislative and research teams tap into the great resource of Impact Awards for testimony to Congress and as examples to share with federal agencies.
Awardees receive an Impact Award certificate and a press release to announce the award to regional partners, stakeholders, and media outlets.

Showcase Your Success and Network with Peers

A special roundtable reception showcases award-winning projects during NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference in Reno, NV (October 26-29, 2026). Winners are often included in best practice sessions at the conference.
In addition to the roundtable reception, awardees have ample opportunities to talk with peers about their award-winning projects and share best practices.

Community and Organization Recognition

Winning an Impact Award gives awardees numerous opportunities to build their organization’s reputation within their communities and with regional stakeholders, funders, and potential clients. It also recognizes staff for their dedication and hard work.

The National Association of Development Organizations hosted an Impact Awards Reception during their Annual Training Conference at the Marriott Canal Street hotel on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Peter G. Forest/Forest Photography, LLC)

Eligibility

Only NADO members can apply for the award.
If multiple regional development organizations, such as members of a state association, wish to apply for an Impact Award for a collaborative project, the current NADO member submits one application on behalf of all.
Only three applications per organization may be submitted. Projects must show substantial quantitative or qualitative results in the region. For a competitive application, address one or more of the following:
- uniqueness and level of impact;
- ability to be replicated;
- long-term viability and significance;
- inventive partnerships and collaborations;
- and/or creative funding mechanisms
The 2026 application window is March 26 – May 6.
Contact Brett Schwartz at [email protected] with any questions.

Benefits for Impact Award Winners

Positive local and national attention

Showcase Your Success and Network with Peers

Community and Organization Recognition

Eligibility

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