Business Retention and Expansion Gold awarded for the Succession Ontario program; Digital Media Silver awarded for the Kingston Company Spotlight campaign
Kingston, Ontario – August 20, 2026 – Kingston Economic Development Corporation has been recognized with two 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), for communities with a population under 200,000. A Gold Award for Succession Ontario, and a Silver Award for its Kingston Company Spotlight social media campaign.
“Kingston Economic Development is leading the field of excellence in economic development with both its Succession Ontario program and its Kingston Company Spotlight campaign. These awards shine a spotlight on the Corporation’s commitment to its community and showcase the significant impact economic development can have on business owners and residents alike,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “IEDC is honoured to present these awards to Kingston Economic Development to celebrate their leadership and innovation in the field.”
The Corporation’s Gold Award recognizes the Succession Ontario program in the Business Retention and Expansion category, selected by a panel of professional economic developers for its measurable impact in helping small business owners plan successful transitions and keep jobs and storefronts in their communities. Succession Ontario is the province’s first-ever centralized business succession planning hub, delivered by Kingston Economic Development with a $1.9 million investment from the Government of Ontario. The program offers business owners across the province free video modules, planning tools, an automated business valuation tool, and one-on-one advisory support. In its first five months of operation, the platform generated more than 58,000 website interactions, and the Corporation has begun training advisors at all 50 of Ontario’s Small Business Enterprise Centres to deliver succession planning resources to business owners in every corner of the province. The program was also named one of 15 nominees for IEDC’s Best in Show Award, the highest accolade given within the 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards: judges handpicked these projects as the best of the best in economic development across every category and population size, and a single winner will be revealed at the IEDC 2026 Annual Conference in October.
“This recognition from the International Economic Development Council is a testament to Ontario’s position as a leading jurisdiction for innovation, job creation, and business competitiveness,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business. “I want to thank the Kingston Economic Development Corporation for their partnership with our government as well as congratulate them for their transformative work in launching Succession Ontario, helping businesses expand, create good-paying jobs, and ensure long-term economic growth across our province for years to come.”
“Kingston has always believed that its economic strength lies in supporting the businesses that call this city home, from the newest entrepreneur to the longest-standing employer,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “I want to congratulate Kingston Economic Development on this well-deserved recognition and thank the Corporation for the work it does every day to support our local businesses and strengthen our community.”
The Corporation also received a Silver Award in the Digital Media category for Kingston Company Spotlight, a weekly social media campaign that ran across LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram throughout 2025. Over 46 consecutive weeks, the campaign featured local businesses spanning every sector and size, from one-person small businesses to large manufacturers, reflecting Kingston Economic Development’s commitment to showcasing the full breadth of Kingston’s business community. On LinkedIn alone, the campaign generated 64,920 impressions, reaching an estimated 32,460 people, or roughly 18 per cent of the Kingston region’s population. The Digital Media category is judged on a project’s achievement of its goals, its contribution to economic development, its creativity and accessibility, and its potential to be adapted by other communities, and it was awarded to Kingston Company Spotlight for proving that a simple, consistent format, executed well, can rival far more expensive campaigns and for its strong potential to be replicated by other communities.
“These two awards reflect the full range of work our team does every day, from building a first-of-its-kind provincial program that will help thousands of business owners transition their businesses successfully, to telling the stories of companies that make Kingston’s economy so diverse,” said Donna Gillespie, CEO, Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “We are proud that the International Economic Development Council has recognized our initiatives, and even prouder of what they mean for the business owners and communities we serve.”
Each year, IEDC honours economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that consistently demonstrate excellence in the field. This year’s awards take on special meaning as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary, recognizing successes and shining a spotlight on programs that inspire and prepare the field for the next century of economic development. This is the third time Kingston Economic Development has received IEDC’s top recognition for its programs and initiatives.
To learn more about Kingston Economic Development’s award-winning Succession Ontario program, visit successionontario.ca. To read about businesses featured in the weekly Kingston Company Spotlight, visit the Corporation’s social media channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram @investkingston.
Media Contacts:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
