Economic Development

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

As part of a cooperative agreement with the Economic Development Administration, STDC provides planning and technical assistance and development of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) which identifies regional community economic development goals and strategies. Upon request, staff provides assistance to communities in their economic development efforts.

Background

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 42 U.S.C. § 3121), as amended, to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.

In fulfilling its mission, EDA is guided by the basic principle that distressed communities must be empowered to develop and implement their own economic development and revitalization strategies. Based on these locally- and regionally-developed priorities, EDA works in partnership with state and local governments, regional economic development districts, public and private nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes. EDA helps distressed communities address problems associated with long-term economic distress, as well as sudden and severe economic dislocations including recovering from the economic impacts of natural disasters, the closure of military installations and other Federal facilities, changing trade patterns, and the depletion of natural resources.