The Suwannee County Economic Development office has been recognized with a prestigious statewide award for its innovative approach to economic development marketing. The Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) named Suwannee County the winner of the 2025 Innovation in Marketing Award at its annual conference held in Charlotte Harbor, Florida.

The award honors excellence in advertising campaigns that demonstrate creativity, originality, impact, and effectiveness. Suwannee County stood out for its “We Are Suwannee County” economic development campaign, which highlights real residents and business owners telling their own stories about living and working in the community.

We prioritized authentic testimonials because it’s more powerful when it comes from someone who is living it. Their firsthand experiences provide the strongest endorsement of our community’s strengths, offering genuine insights into doing business here. This campaign emphasizes the people, resources, and opportunities that make our county an ideal place to invest. By sharing real experiences, we created a compelling, human centered narrative that goes beyond data and statistics to demonstrate why businesses thrive in Suwannee County.

The We Are Suwannee campaign was initially launched five years ago. The most recent phase of the campaign includes six 45-second videos, a full-length overview video, and two short-form videos. The content was distributed across YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google advertising platforms.

The “We Are Suwannee County” campaign was developed as part of the county’s long-term strategy to attract new businesses and promote economic growth by showcasing the people, target industries, and opportunities that make the area unique.

This award is a testament to a team effort. We’re grateful for the unwavering support of the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners and all the local businesses and individuals who contributed to making this campaign such a success.

About the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC):

The Florida Economic Development Council is a professional association dedicated to advancing economic development practices in the state of Florida. Each year, the FEDC Awards recognize leaders and communities that exemplify excellence in economic development initiatives.