This award honors organizations achieving significant results from an overall campaign, including economic development advertising, marketing and public relations. The emphasis is on effective business development and/or community revitalization campaigns. The strategic approach, quality of technical work and results achieved are important determinants. To be eligible, nominated projects must have been implemented in 2011.

Evaluation criteria will include:

• Strategic approach - purpose and intended outcomes
• Targeted to appropriate audiences
• Innovation and originality
• Cost effectiveness
• Achievement of stated objectives
• Method of measuring results:  Qualitative or Quantitative Results
• Graphic appeal

* These criteria are also what the judging will be based upon.
Using a scale of 1-6 with 1 being the lowest, and 6 the highest points allowed.

Submission Guidelines:

• A profile cannot exceed five double-spaced pages to include: cover page and each cover page must include: Category; Project Title; Office Name. 
• Please submit one original profile and six copies with any supporting documents [supporting documentation cannot exceed five additional pages and must be 3-hole punched or be placed into a plastic sheet protector]. If you are submitting marketing materials these items must also fit into a 3-ring binder [when possible, please send seven copies so all judges may review in advance with project narrative]. 
• Submit original and copies unbound with paperclip or binder clip in left corner [all supplemental material must be assembled to fit into 3-ring binder]. 
• All pages of original and copies must be three-hole punched.
• In addition to hard copies, please submit profile and supporting documentation on CD ROM.
• All submission documentation [except payment] should be sent to:
  
  Platinum PR
  Atten: Sandy Sponaugle
  119 East Patrick Street, 2nd Floor
  Frederick, MD 21701
  
  All entries must be received by 5:00 pm on December 2, 2011.

Please direct all submission questions to Sandy Sponaugle at: Sandy@PlatinumPR.com or call 301-358-9255

Entry Fee:
$100.00 [include copy of entry form with entry]
Make Check payable to: MEDA
Mail Check to: P.O. Box 955, Aberdeen, MD 21001

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Awards will be announced and award winning entries will be displayed during the MEDA Annual Conference at the Chesapeake Hyatt in Dorchester County on April 30, 2012. All entries become the property of MEDA, which is not responsible for the loss, damage or return of entries.

Judges for these awards are economic development and/or marketing professionals. The judges are chosen because of their knowledge of both economic development and marketing. They understand the needs businesses have when choosing a site and how communities and economic development organizations can reach prospective clients through their marketing efforts.

RULES:

To be eligible for the 2012 competition, Economic Development or Redevelopment project entries must have either been initiated or completed during the previous three years, or a major phase must have been completed and functioning during the previous calendar year. Economic Development Marketing entries must have been implemented in 2011. All entries must adhere to these additional rules:

• This is an open competition, but submissions must be made by MEDA members. 
• You may submit the same entry in more than one category as long as the entry fees are submitted for all categories
• Public relations and advertising agencies may submit entries on behalf of their clients (who are MEDA members) if the entry is submitted under the client's [MEDA Member] name and address.
• Public relations and advertising agencies that are MEDA members, may also submit. 
• Awards will be presented to the MEDA member who submitted the project/program.  

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All entries must be received by 5:00 pm on November 30, 2011.

Nomination Form >