Webinar – Stronger Together: Cooperative Models
This webinar explores how cooperative models can help communities respond to disruption, retain jobs, and reposition key industries for growth.
June 25, 2026
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From Construction to Community Wealth: Insights for Planners and Economic Developers from RootedHomes
At the 2026 EDD Wealth Creation Summit in Bend, Oregon, hosted in partnership with Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) and Regards to Rural, participants engaged in mobile workshops highlighting place-based wealth creation strategies. One workshop featured RootedHomes, a community land trust (CLT) operating in Central Oregon, that offered a compelling example of how housing can function as a regional wealth building strategy aligned with the wealth creation framework.
June 17, 2026
Tips for EDDs on Contracting Planning Services for Member Communities
This resource provides tips and best practices drawn from the experiences of EDD staff who have managed fee-for-service or contract planning services in their member communities. While the EDDs featured operate in the Southeast, their lessons can apply broadly to districts across the country
June 1, 2026
Building Capacity and Strengthening EDD-University Connections In Arkansas
This case study demonstrates how University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service (UADA Extension) partners with all eight EDA-designated Economic Development Districts in Arkansas to strengthen regional capacity, with a focus on its long-standing collaboration with the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District (WAPDD). It highlights how coordinated efforts in training, data sharing, and community facilitation have evolved into a scalable, locally rooted model for university–EDD partnerships.
May 12, 2026
[Webinar]: Why Clusters Matter: Industry-focused Strategies for Regional Economic Competitiveness
This webinar showed how cluster strategies align business, workforce, and public investment, shared real examples from Economic Development District staff using cluster analysis, and outlined practical steps for regions to launch or strengthen their own cluster initiatives.
April 8, 2026
Opportunity Zones 2.0 Resource Guide
This resource page includes a variety of information on Opportunity Zones, including background information, updates on the designation process, mapping and data tools to support informed planning and decision making, and materials about local planning and implementation considerations.
March 28, 2026
Chicken Before the Egg: How Central Virginia Poultry Farmers Turned a Crisis into a Cooperative
In March 2023, Tyson Foods announced the closure of its Glen Allen, Virginia facility, leaving hundreds of local poultry growers and their 265 farmer‑owned production houses without long‑standing contracts. This case study examines how a broad coalition of regional partners, including the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC), the area’s Economic Development District (EDD), mobilized to respond and chart a path forward.
February 24, 2026
Applying an Economic Development Lens to Childcare Webinar Recording
The discussion focuses on how regional planning expertise can support partners seeking to translate childcare challenges into actionable economic evidence.
January 21, 2026
EDDs In Action Video: Mid-Shore Regional Council
This video highlights how the Mid-Shore Regional Council is driving economic growth and prosperity across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. As the region’s Economic Development District, Mid-Shore fosters collaboration among local governments, businesses, and community leaders.
January 6, 2026
Meeting the Childcare Challenge: Opportunities for Economic Development Districts
This report examines the drivers of the childcare challenge and the impact it has had in communities across the country.
December 3, 2025