Because CEDS Said So

My first full time planning position was with a regional council of governments in Iowa. Being a small office that served eight counties, I needed to “wear multiple hat’s”. One of those hats was the coordinator for the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

The CEDS is a regional economic development plan that covers each of the Economic Development Districts (EDDs) under the Economic Development Administration (EDA). After an analysis of a region’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), the plan sets forth a set of goals and priorities to generate jobs, diversify the economy, and spur economic growth.

EDA’s Economic Development Districts (www.eda.gov)

Colstrip, Montana, Looks to the CEDS to Diversify Economy

One good example of a CEDS is the one developed by the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation. The community of Colstrip and the surrounding region was suffering from the decline in the coal mining industry. The region’s CEDS was seen as a possible tool to assist in the redevelopment, painting map towards a prosperous future.

The resulting plan, as adopted in 2017, had six goals and 17 priorities targeted towards the diversification of the regional economy. The six focus areas of the plan included;  coal, energy, and renewable technology; high tech industry and entrepreneurship; manufacturing; high skilled labor with trades; agriculture and outdoor recreation/tourism; and quality of life.

The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) spotlighted the Colstrip CEDS in one of their case studies. It is a good breakdown of this effective economic development plan. The NADO webpage also has an interview with the Executive Director for the Southeastern Montana Development Corporation and links to the original CEDS document.

Use Your CEDS Effectively

Unfortunately, many rural communities do not even know that they are covered by a regional CEDS plan. Community leaders should look up their own regional Economic Development District to find out where they sit EDA’s map. Then, read through the most recent version of their CEDS to understand the goals and priorities for your region.

The CEDS should also become integrated with your planning documents as well. Often, a community’s comprehensive plan or economic development plan will have numerous similarities in goals and priorities. Tie these documents together through revisions to the plans that echo common goals for economic development.

Restating common goals across multiple viable planning and policy documents gives more credibility to that goal and show multi-organizational support. This helps with local, regional, state and federal infrastructure and technical assistance grants, such as EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs.

We’re all on the lookout for additional funding to reach our municipal dreams.