Inspired by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) CEDS Content Guidelines, many Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and other regional organizations  have taken their CEDS to the next level, making these plans and processes more impactful and powerful than ever before.  Through the Guidelines, EDA has empowered regions to plan, develop, and implement the CEDS in ways that reflect local and regional goals and priorities.
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While all CEDS must contain certain required sections, EDDs, tribes, and other organizations have wide latitude in how to engage in the planning process and what the final document looks like.  Below are links to and descriptions of CEDS and CEDS-related initiatives that show the full potential of what the CEDS can be.  These examples and best practices - highlighting key themes, content, and design elements - demonstrate the possibilities that exist for organizations as they create their CEDS, all with the ultimate goal of making regions more competitive, resilient, and equitable.

​Photo credit:  Pexels contributor Sagui Andrea

Equity & Inclusion 

In April 2021, equity was included for the first time as one of EDA's investment priorities (a list of key focus areas that provide the framework to guide the agency's approach to funding projects).  The following are examples of CEDS that place a strong emphasis on equity and inclusive economic development.  These plans recognize that a region can only be truly resilient and prosperous when underrepresented voices are heard and inclusive approaches are embraced in all stages of the process. 

For additional information on how to incorporate equity and inclusion into the CEDS and other regional planning efforts, explore the Inclusive Recovery Toolkit from the New Growth Innovation Network.    
  • Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (Berkshire County, MA)
    BRPC’s CEDS for 2023-2027 includes multiple accompanying resources translated into Spanish, including an expanded Executive Summary, summary video with Spanish subtitles, and an online overview utilizing ArcGIS StoryMaps. The CEDS also emphasizes the importance of equitable and affordable access to education, healthcare, and housing as foundational to a healthy economy.
  • Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (Waukesha, WI)​
    SEWRPC's CEDS recognizes the importance and urgency of confronting the region’s equity issues throughout the document.  It also includes an "Equity Analysis of Action Plan" that applies an equity lens to all of the CEDS strategies in an effort to evaluate the extent they would benefit people of color and low-income residents.  
  • Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (The Dalles, OR) 
    MCEDD recognized the CEDS process as "an opportunity...to consider where there are gaps in economic opportunity, barriers to accessing this benefit that may vary by population or community, and ways to support improving outcomes."  MCEDD held seven public sessions - all virtual - as part of the process to update its five-year CEDS and also partnered with a local community-based organization to host focus groups with the region's Native American and Latino/a/Hispanic communities.  A summary of the CEDS in Spanish was also created and is hosted on the CEDS website.  
  • ​Greater Peoria Economic Development Council (Peoria, IL)
    "The Big Table: Greater Peoria" is the outreach and engagement process that led to the creation of this CEDS.  Diversity, equity, and inclusion are infused throughout the goal areas to address systemic barriers to wealth creation and quality of life in the region.  
  • Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Boston, MA) 
    MAPC's CEDS centers the issues of equity and inclusion by defining terms, explaining their importance, and framing goals around these issues.  The process and plan has three major themes:  racial equity, economic resilience, and climate resilience.  
  • Region Five Development Commission (Staples, MN)
    R5DC brands its CEDS as a "CREDS" - a Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy (CrEDS) that incorporates the themes of resiliency, inclusion, and best management practices.  The document states that through the CEDS process and implementation efforts, R5DC and its partners  "will continue to work towards empowerment of communities through equitable decision making, fostering authentic relationships and community connections, including different perspectives, and improving accessibility and inclusive participation that leads to a greater sense of belonging across the region." ​

Resilience & Recovery Planning 

As additional EDA Investment Priorities, resiliency and recovery are important themes that must be incorporated into the CEDS.  Shocks and stresses don’t stop at geographical or jurisdictional boundaries, making the need to prepare and respond to these events a regional effort.  The CEDS planning process is therefore an ideal opportunity to position regions for recovery.  Below are examples of CEDS and other plans that have effectively infused resilience and recovery planning into CEDS development, including pandemic recovery efforts.
  • Southeast Conference (Juneau, AK)
    Southeast Conference's CEDS contains more than 50 objectives, 4 priority objectives, and regional and industry specific SWOT analyses.  It includes the results of a resiliency mapping initiative and a pandemic recovery plan.  More than 400 people representing small businesses, tribes, Native organizations, municipalities, and nonprofits were involved in various elements of the planning process.  The organization's Southeast Alaska by the Numbers document also serves as the CEDS annual update. 
  • Western Nevada Development District (Carson City, NV)
    WNDD's CEDS incorporates resilience planning into the document, which was updated in 2021 to address pandemic recovery efforts.  This CEDS strives to create an environment that welcomes new businesses and industries to the region to promote a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable economy while strengthening the environment for existing businesses.  WNDD and its partners also developed a standalone Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan which has been included in the CEDS document.  
  • Eastern Maine Development Corporation (Bangor, ME) 
    EMDC's CEDS is influenced by the region it serves - a coastal area home to a legacy industry that has been impacted both by the changing climate and shifts in the global economy.  The CEDS sets forth a key goal to "Foster Methods of Adaptation and Mitigation to Strengthen the Region’s Resilience Against Climate-Related Impacts" and also identifies strategies, best practices, and examples to support small communities impacted by paper mill closures.  
  • Coastal Bend Council of Governments (Corpus Christi, TX)
    In response to a variety of shocks impacting its region, CBCOG's CEDS establishes Goals, Objectives, and Strategic Actions that all focus on advancing economic resilience in an era of climate, environmental, and technological change.  The CEDS also supports the newly-established Regional Resilience Partnership that delivers technical assistance, builds local knowledge, and provides additional capacity to local officials and stakeholders.  
  • Greater Portland Economic Development District (Portland, OR)
    GPEDD's CEDS identifies three overarching goals that all support making the region more resilient and equitable:  "Foster Upward Economic Mobility," "Support a Competitive Economy," and "Build a Resilient Region."  The CEDS is also supported by the Greater Portland Economic Recovery Plan,  published in October 2020 to ensure an equitable and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.  
  • ​Region Five Development Commission (Staples, MN)
    Region Five's CEDS, re-branded as a Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy (CREDS), outlines the region’s priority economic development activities and aligns Region Five's organizational goals.  The CREDS promotes wealth creation principles and incorporates resiliency, inclusion, and best management practices.  ​
  • Houston-Galveston Area Council Regional Economic Resilience Plan (Houston, TX)
    H​GAC's Regional and Economic Resilience Plan, funded by EDA and written in 2018, was developed to identify economic challenges in the region, assist authorities in planning for economic disruptions, create the means to enhance economic resilience, and establish a vision for resilient regional economy.  With county-by-county recommendations, its key themes are "Keeping Water Where It Belongs," "Defending Great Places," and "Future Proofing."  It supports HGAC's larger resilience planning efforts and informs the CEDS process and plan.  

Data & Mapping 

To reach its full potential, a CEDS should be grounded in accurate and accessible data that facilitates a region-wide conversation about economic development.  Without a solid understanding of metrics, trends, demographics, and more, a region is at a major disadvantage in planning for the future.  The following are examples of EDD-developed CEDS and resources that house important data on key topics to better inform the region on where it is now and where it is going.  
  • Centralina Economic Development District (Charlotte, NC)
    Centralina's Interactive Data Portal maintains an up-to-date repository of economic, transportation, workforce, and community information to empower local leaders and stakeholders in their decision-making processes. 
  • North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission (Ridgway, PA)
    ​North North Central’s CEDS and Resiliency Plan addresses the region’s development and growth, identifies economic vulnerabilities and opportunities, and strategizes short-term recovery as well as long-term resiliency.  It is hosted online and also includes a data dashboard with data indicators and metrics for the priorities and goals identified in the CEDS plan.  (Click here to read a case study about this project)    
  • East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (Orlando, FL)
    The East Central Florida CEDS Dashboard provides key metrics driving economic opportunity in the region through data points, charts, and maps highlighting core areas related to people, economy, places, and food systems.  
  • Lowcountry Council of Governments (Yemassee, SC)
    In partnership with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, the Lowcountry COG created an online community indicators portal that offers a free, centralized resource with relevant indicators that help support informed decision-making across the region.  It provides over 140 indicators in the areas of Demographics, Health, Housing, Environment, Poverty, Education, Transportation, and Economy. 
  • Heart of Texas Economic Development District (Waco, TX) 
    HOTCOG's online CEDS includes a mapping tool that links to both county and community profiles that include key demographic and economic metrics, including population, housing, income, and workforce.  

Plan Alignment & Integration

As a region's vision for economic development, it is a natural fit to align and integrate the CEDS with other plans and processes also underway, leading to a much more robust planning and implementation experience across sectors.  This approach adds value to the overall process and resulting plans, is more efficient, improves stakeholder engagement, and increases funding opportunities from more sources.  Below are examples of CEDS that are highly coordinated with transportation plans, hazard mitigation plans, resilience and recovery plans, and others.  ​

Statewide CEDS & Initiatives

Economic development districts across the country are recognizing the value in leveraging their expertise, resources, and partnerships across their organizations and at the state level.  These include initiatives such as coordinating statewide CEDS plans, sharing information across regions, and pursuing joint projects.  Below are examples that demonstrate the value in regions pursing statewide approaches that in turn support regional and local economic development goals.  
  • Economic Development Districts of Idaho - Idaho Strong Statewide Economic Development Strategy
    The members of the Economic Development Districts of Idaho (EDDI) came together to align strategic economic development efforts throughout the state and leverage resources at all levels for a greater overall economic development impact.  Idaho Strong is a common framework for regional economic development and identifies strategies to address the special challenges and opportunities for Idaho. ​
  • Minnesota Association of Development Organizations - DevelopMN
    MADO, Minnesota's statewide association of ten regional development organizations, created DevelopMN to serve as a common framework for regional economic development, synthesizing all of the CEDS written for each region.  DevelopMN identified the following cornerstones as key components of strong regions and communities:  Human Capital, Economic Competitiveness, Community Resources, and Foundational Assets.  
  • UA Center for Economic Development - Alaska Statewide CEDS
    Alaska's Statewide CEDS process is supported by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development with the planning, research, and writing process overseen by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development.  Focus areas for the most recent statewide CEDS, expected to be completed in summer 2022, are: Strengthen Alaska’s Economic Engines; Cultivate and Grow Emerging Sectors; Improve the Business Climate and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem; Build and Update Economic Foundations; Develop Alaska’s Workforce and Human Capital; and Build a Resilient State Economy.
  • North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments -NC Tomorrow
    ​    NCARCOG, North Carolina's statewide association of councils of governments, leveraged federal and state funding to develop a statewide CEDS as part of the NC Tomorrow initiative.  It sets forth four broad goals:  Build on the Region’s Competitive Advantages and Leverage the Marketplace; Establish and Maintain a Robust Regional Infrastructure; Create Revitalized, Healthy, Secure, and Resilient Communities; and Develop Talented and Innovative People.   
  • Kansas Association of Regional Development Organizations & the Institute for Policy & Social Research - Kansas Regional Data Portal
    Launched in 2014, this online data portal leverages existing economic and demographic databases developed by IPSR, a coordinating agency in the Census State Data Center program.  It was created to support Kansas EDDs with their CEDS planning and implementation efforts and includes seven broad categories:  demographics, housing, business & industry, healthcare, quality of life, infrastructure, and natural resources.  
  • Arkansas Association of Development Organizations - Arkansas Recovery and Resiliency Plan
    EDA has partnered with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) and the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University to create the Arkansas Recovery and Resiliency Plan.  The two Arkansas EDA University Centers will join forces with the eight EDA Planning and Economic Development Districts that make up the Arkansas Association of Development Organizations to provide training, documentation, resources, and planning for local governments, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, manufacturing sector, and other entities affected by the pandemic.
  • Nebraska Regional Officials Councils- Nebraska Broadband Speed Test
    Using EDA CARES Act funding, NROC launched a statewide broadband mapping initiative where residents in Nebraska  can participate in a one-minute speed test from any internet-enabled device.  This initiative will better catalogue and understand current providers’ speeds, find gaps in service, learn how much residents are paying for services, and provide useful data for broadband planning and implementation efforts.  

CEDS Document:  Printed Design 

One of the major changes in the CEDS over the past five years has been the improvements made to the look and feel of the CEDS document itself.  The new CEDS that are being created today are visually engaging and are meant for the public - many are shorter in length and incorporate good design, images, infographics, and much more.  Below are examples of CEDS that have embraced enhanced design and visuals.  

CEDS Document: Digital / Online Design

Many organizations are exploring ways to make their CEDS more visually engaging, interactive, and impactful. Over the past few years, new examples are emerging of online or interactive CEDS that utilize Story Maps, data dashboards, CEDS websites, and much more.  The NADO Research Foundation is tracking these examples in a spreadsheet, available here, that provides links to the online CEDS as well as other resources.  Some of those CEDS are listed below.  

Tribal CEDS 

Tribes that are preparing a CEDS for submission to US EDA should follow the same requirements outlined in the Federal Regulations and guidance offered in the CEDS Content Guidelines.  The best practices and examples featured above and throughout CEDS Central are similarly applicable to a tribal CEDS.  Below are examples of tribal CEDS that incorporate many of these themes and demonstrate how tribes can craft a CEDS that centers local culture, values, needs, and goals.  Thank you to Joanie Buckley for sharing many of these examples.   
With funding from the U.S. EDA-Austin Regional Office, the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) published the Toolkit for Writing a Tribal Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to an Indigenous perspective to the CEDS process.  Click here to view the toolkit.  

Projects Inspired by the CEDS 

The goal of the CEDS process is not just to create an accessible, well-researched, and engaging planning document - though that's still important!  It is ultimately meant to encourage action and create the space for meaningful projects and initiatives that meet the economic development goals of the region.  The following are links to resources that highlight examples of impactful and replicable projects that were either identified in or inspired by the CEDS.  ​
  • CEDS In Action Case Studies Series​
    These short case studies demonstrate a variety of examples of powerful projects that emerged from the CEDS planning process.  The projects cover a range of areas, including workforce development, broadband, resilience planning, infrastructure, local foods, and much more.  
  • EDA Success Stories
    EDA catalogues success stories of projects it has funded in a variety of program areas, including projects identified in the CEDS.  EDA-funded grantees are also encouraged to submit their own projects to be a part of this ever-expanding online library.
  • EDDs in Action Case Studies Series
    Many of the projects featured in NADO RF's "EDDs in Action" case studies series emerged from the CEDS planning and visioning process.  The series demonstrates the wide breadth of programs, projects, and initiatives EDDs support and implement to improve their regions, making them more resilient, prosperous, and better prepared for the future.​
  • NADO Impact Awards Story Maps Archive
    The Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Awards annually honors significant advances in community and economic development, including but not limited to small business finance, energy and infrastructure projects, resilience planning, housing and human services, sustainable development, workforce development, and much more.  Explore Story Maps to learn more about these projects, many of which were identified in the CEDS.  
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