Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. A CEDS is the result of a regionally-owned planning process designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of a region. The CEDS can play a key role in establishing and maintaining a robust economic ecosystem by helping to build regional capacity that contributes to the economic progress of communities in the region.

The CEDS provides a vehicle for individuals, organizations, local governments, educational institutions, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation  about what capacity -building efforts best serve economic development in the region. The CEDS should account for, integrate or leverage other regional planning efforts, including the use of other available federal funds, private sector resources, and state support that can advance a region’s CEDS goals and objectives.

Regions must update their CEDS at least every five years to qualify for EDA assistance under its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. In addition, a CEDS is a prerequisite for designation by EDA as an Economic Development District (EDD).

SODA is currently developing its 2025-2029 CEDS Please help us by completing this brief economic development survey for your community. [CEDS Survey]. The survey will take 5 minutes or less to complete.