Team president Michael Bidwill was honored by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council Thursday night for his work in the local business community.




Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill was honored Thursday night by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) for his work in the local business community.

He received the organization's Distinguished Service Award at GPEC's 2010 Annual Dinner at the Arizona Biltmore.  

"Michael is being honored as a leader who has been instrumental in creating new initiatives, executing campaigns, and bringing together Arizona's decision makers," GPEC wrote.  "He works with our organization to project a regional identity and ensure a competitive, vibrant and self-sustaining regional economy."

Among the most prominent of those initiatives was the passage of the state's Renewable Energy Tax Incentive program that has vaulted Arizona to the nation's top position in terms of solar and renewable energy manufacturing. This past spring, Bidwill led a 60-person delegation to Washington, D.C. to lobby for various economic development initiatives for Arizona. That included successful lobbying for the F-35 training program at Luke Air Force Base.

Said Bidwill, "I am very appreciative of this honor and encourage others to get involved in our state's economic development during what is such a critical time in Arizona's history."