Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 23, 2026
Jennifer Storm Named 2025 Economic Developer of the Year by IEDC
TLDR
- Buda EDC CEO Jennifer Storm's award-winning strategies offer a blueprint for attracting high-value companies like Perseus Defense and securing major investments.
- The IEDC awarded Jennifer Storm as 2025 Economic Developer of the Year for measurable achievements including job creation, business incentives, and incubator programs.
- Storm's leadership at Buda EDC fosters community prosperity through job creation, small business support, and downtown revitalization efforts.
- Jennifer Storm is the first Texan to win IEDC's Economic Developer of the Year award, recognized for transforming Buda into an innovation hub.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights the critical role of effective economic development in driving local prosperity and community well-being. Jennifer Storm's recognition underscores how strategic leadership can attract high-wage jobs, support small businesses, and foster innovation, directly impacting residents through improved employment opportunities and economic stability. For other communities, it serves as a model for sustainable growth, demonstrating that targeted initiatives like incubators and incentive programs can revitalize local economies. In a broader context, it emphasizes the importance of regional collaboration and public-private partnerships in addressing economic challenges, offering insights for policymakers and developers aiming to replicate such success elsewhere.
Summary
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has honored Jennifer Storm, CEO of the Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC), as its 2025 Economic Developer of the Year, marking the first time a Texan has received this prestigious award. This recognition celebrates Storm's exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in driving economic prosperity in Buda, Texas. Under her strategic direction, Buda has emerged as a hub for high-wage job creation and knowledge-based businesses, with IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle praising her vision, trust-building, and deep commitment to community service. The award will be formally presented at the IEDC 2026 Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., from March 1–3, 2026.
Storm's achievements include attracting significant investments like Perseus Defense, a Y Combinator-backed aerospace company establishing its national headquarters in Buda, and a $120 million expansion by US Foods that created 160 jobs. She has also championed local entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Buda HIVE incubator and THRIVE small business loan program, while awarding approximately $267,000 in LEAP incentives to 52 local businesses for retention, expansion, workforce upskilling, marketing, and downtown revitalization. In her response, Storm credited the Buda EDC team and board for their tireless work in championing commerce and community, highlighting the collaborative effort behind these successes.
Jennifer Storm's leadership extends beyond Buda EDC, as she serves as Chair of the Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce, sits on the board of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership, and was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Board of Directors. The Buda Economic Development Corporation, dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and enhancing quality of life in Buda, Texas, works through strategic partnerships and business support to attract investment and promote innovation. The International Economic Development Council, as the world's largest association for economic developers, supports professionals globally through learning, networking, and advocacy, making this award a significant milestone in recognizing impactful economic development work.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, Jennifer Storm Named 2025 Economic Developer of the Year by IEDC
