PORTAGE | The Portage Economic Development Corp. presented several awards recently at its annual dinner.

Scott Falk, A.J. Monroe and Terry Hardin were honored for their participation on the PEDCO board since its inception in 2001. All three left the board last year.

E. Ric Frataccia, assistant superintendent of Portage Township Schools, also was recognized for his service as president of the board in 2007.

Former Mayor Doug Olson was presented with the 2008 PEDCO Award for Excellence in Economic Development.

PEDCO Executive Director Chris Stidham said the award was for a "significant body of work in economic development" and lauded Olson for resurrecting PEDCO early in his first term and for his "inclusion, vision and action" in developing and carrying out several projects, from the Northside Plan to the Lakefront Park, AmeriPlex and Ivy Tech Community College, during his tenure.

"You are only as good as the people around you and I was blessed with great people around me," Olson said upon receiving the award.