The award recognizes the Advanced Technology Development Center's commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy.

"I'm honored to recognize Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) for its outstanding efforts to empower Georgia residents by attracting private sector investments and creating higher-skill, higher-wage jobs. This award is a great example of our appreciation of organizations like this one to help grow the economy and create jobs for local citizens," said Commerce Secretary Don Evans.

"The winners of EDA's Excellence Awards represent the best and brightest economic development methods and practices in use today. Their commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development is helping America's communities grow their economies and create jobs. I am grateful for their participation in our national awards program," said Assistant Secretary for Economic Development David A. Sampson.

"The ATDC plays a vital role in helping Georgia realize the economic development potential of technology-based start-up companies," said Wayne Hodges, Georgia Tech's vice-provost for Economic Development and Technology Ventures and director of the ATDC. "We very much appreciate this recognition from the Department of Commerce."

The Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) gives the award. The Commerce Department also awarded other organizations across the country with Excellence in Economic Development Awards for Excellence in Community and Faith-based Economic Development; Excellence in Economic Adjustment; Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Regional Competitiveness; Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development; Excellence in Urban or Suburban Economic Development; and Excellence in Rural Economic Development.

Nominations for EDA's Excellence Awards are made in specific categories announced each year and nominees are evaluated by a selection panel appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.

Winners receive their awards at the EDA National Conference "The Innovation Imperative - Translating Ideas Into Regional Prosperity" held June 8th through June 10th, 2004 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The ATDC's award was accepted by Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough - who was also a speaker at the conference - and ATDC General Manager Tony Antoniades.

The EDA National Conference brings together successful grassroots practitioners and top national experts to discuss how to turn America's ideas into more marketable products, processes, services, and most importantly, more new jobs here at home.

EDA serves as a venture capital resource to meet the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA partners with states, units of local government and community nonprofit organizations in economically distressed areas, regions and communities in order to alleviate conditions of poverty and substantial and persistent unemployment and underemployment.

Additional information on how EDA investments are helping distressed communities create a positive and sustainable economic future can be accessed at: http://www.doc.gov/eda.

About the ATDC: Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center is a nationally recognized science and technology incubator that helps Georgia entrepreneurs launch and build successful companies, providing strategic business advice and connecting its member companies to the people and resources they need to succeed. More than 100 companies have emerged from the ATDC, including publicly-traded firms such as MindSpring Enterprises - now part of EarthLink.

Headquartered at the Georgia Institute of Technology, ATDC has been recognized by Inc Magazine as one of the nation's top nonprofit incubators. ATDC was formed in 1980 to stimulate growth in Georgia's technology business base, and now has locations in Atlanta, Columbus, Savannah and Warner Robins.

Department of Commerce Information: Matthew Crow (303-482-4085).

ATDC News & Information: John Toon (404-894-6986); E-mail: (john.toon@atdc.org)