The City has earned the Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) designation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a recognition considered one of the highest honors in the economic development field.
Riverside now joins fewer than 100 accredited organizations worldwide and is one of only three in California to hold the distinction. The city will be formally recognized during the IEDC's Annual Conference this October.
For Riverside residents, the designation is meant to signal that the city's approach to attracting businesses and jobs meets an internationally vetted standard, potentially strengthening its pitch to companies considering relocating or expanding here.
Evaluators reviewed 18 performance areas as part of the accreditation process, including business attraction and retention, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, partnerships, and measurable economic development results.
"This international recognition confirms what we already know: Riverside is a premier destination for innovation, job creation and next-generation industries," Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in a statement. "Our Economic Development team is not just competing, they are setting the standard."
Miranda Evans, the city's Community and Economic Development Director, said the accreditation reflects the work of city staff and their partners. Evans, formally named to the role in June after serving as interim director since February, led the division's application for the AEDO designation. She previously helped recruit six international companies to Riverside, generating more than 700 direct jobs and over $142 million in investment, according to the city.
"This accreditation is a powerful validation of the work happening across Riverside to build a stronger, more innovative economy," Evans said in a statement. "It reflects the dedication of our team, the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to providing world-class support for businesses. Riverside is competing nationally and globally for investment, and this recognition shows we belong among the best."
City officials pointed to recent economic development activity as part of the broader push, including the opening of Voltu Motor Inc.'s global headquarters and manufacturing facility, Voltu Forge One - Riverside, where the company began commercial production of heavy-duty electric trucks and delivered its first vehicles to the City of Riverside.
