The Washington-based International Economic Development Council has selected Gwinnett County’s economic development program, Partnership Gwinnett, for “an award of excellence.”

The “multi-year economic development program award” recognized the partnership’s creation of more than 9,200 jobs and 130 business relocations and expansions since it was formed in 2007.

Lisa Sherman, the chamber’s marketing and public relations director, told GlobalAtlanta that the award cited the partnership’s success in attracting and developing new jobs during a period of economic duress.

While Gwinnett County recently attracted to Duluth the corporate headquarters of NCR Corp. and more than 1,500 affiliated jobs, Ms. Sherman said that the total number of new jobs also was traced to jobs created by small-to medium-sized companies.

Additionally, she said that a critical factor in the decision to give Partnership Gwinnett was that it forged a public-private partnership with a long-term strategic plan, which provided positive results.

Serving more than 4,500 members, the council represents a global network of economic development professionals and provides a range of services including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research, advisory services and legislative tracking.

Partnership Gwinnett is composed of the chamber and more than 160 regional public and private investors including Gwinnett County government, all 15 Gwinnett cities and the county’s three community improvement districts, Gwinnett Medical Center, the county’s public schools and the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Among the private corporations belonging to the partnership are Cisco Systems Inc., AGCO Corp., IBM Corp., WIKA Instrument Corp. and Kaiser Permanente.

The award was presented at the council’s annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio.

To learn more about Partnership Gwinnett, go to http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/partnership