International Economic Development award for Narrabri Shire Council

Narrabri Shire Council has recently received the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

The award was bestowed for the organisation’s work in the Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development category that impacted on the population of less than 25,000 residents.

Narrabri Shire’s economic development team, though not attending in person, will be honoured in front of their peers at the IEDC 2025 Annual Conference in Detroit, Michigan, being held from September 14 to 17.

IEDC president and CEO, Nathan Ohle complimented Narrabri Shire Council for leading the field of excellence in economic development with The Exchange Business Activator (TEBA) program.

“This award shines a spotlight on Narrabri Shire’s commitment to its community and showcases the significant impact of economic development,” Mr Ohle said.

“IEDC is honoured to present this award to Narrabri Shire to celebrate both their leadership and innovation in the field.”

Each year, IEDC honours economic development organisations, government entities, initiatives and programs that consistently demonstrate excellence in the field.

The honourees lead transformational projects that revitalise communities and advance the practice of economic development.

Narrabri Shire Council deputy mayor Cr Brett Dickinson said this award is fantastic recognition of the resilience and innovation within our business community.

“TEBA has shown what’s possible when council, partners and local entrepreneurs work together to drive growth.

“For a regional shire, the results have been extraordinary, new businesses launched, jobs created, and hundreds of locals upskilled. This is about building long-term confidence and opportunity for Narrabri Shire.”

Launched in April 2022, The Exchange Business Activator (TEBA) is a collaboration between Narrabri Shire Council, The Exchange Narrabri and The University of New England SMART Region Incubator.

Designed in response to drought and COVID-19 recovery, TEBA has delivered 99 events, engaged 1,381 participants, supported the creation of 12 new businesses and helped existing operators employ over 50 additional staff.

With its hybrid delivery model and co-working hub, TEBA has become a benchmark for regional entrepreneurship, offering accessible expertise, mentoring, and peer networking to strengthen the local economy. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, membership organisation serving economic developers. With thousands of members, IEDC is the largest organisation of its kind.

Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base.

From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in a full range of economic development practices.

“Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions.

“When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions,” Mr Ohle said.