As part of its Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions programming, the NADO Research Foundation hosted a webinar series March through May 2021 focused on CEDS, recovery, and resilience.  Sessions included best practices and insights from experts and practitioners on a host of topics aimed to support your efforts in building stronger, more resilient communities and regions.  The series has now concluded and archived recordings and additional information are posted below.  Be sure to also visit www.CEDSCentral.com for additional information and resources that are updated regularly.

Contact Brett Schwartz at [email protected] with any questions or for more information.  Thanks for your interest!

Archived Recordings & Resources

Since the early days of the pandemic, Economic Development Districts (EDDs) emerged as key players in supporting economic recovery and resilience in the regions they serve. EDDs will continue to be actively involved for the duration of recovery, utilizing their expertise, services, and partnerships to guide regions through this unprecedented time. This webinar on May 26 featured a roundtable discussion with EDD and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) staff from around the country who shared how their organizations have been working on economic recovery. You’ll learn how districts are assisting their communities and regions in a variety of ways, including through resilience planning, administering Revolving Loan Funds, connecting local businesses with resources and information, forging new partnerships and coalitions, and launching creative initiatives to support with long-term recovery and diversification.

Additional resources highlighted in the webinar:

• Piedmont-Triad Workplace Restart Initiative 
• Piedmont-Triad Council Lights-On Loan Program
• Western Nevada Development District CEDS
• Western Nevada Development District Economic Recovery & Resiliency Project
• Nebraska Broadband Speed Test (led by the Nebraska Regional Officers Council)
• EDA Regional Offices contact information

Founded in 2009, Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization committed to community and economic development throughout the state. Its work connects people, locally-owned businesses, and communities for meaningful actions that build a diverse, inclusive, and prosperous Arizona economy. During this webinar with CEO Kimber Lanning and Director of Rural Programs Liza Noland, you’ll hear more about Local First Arizona’s mission and programs as well as best practices and strategies that your own community and region can adopt to support small business development, entrepreneurship, rural economic development, tourism initiatives, equity and inclusion, youth engagement, and much more.

Many rural regions and small metros were still recovering from the Great Recession when the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year. And in places that had made progress, a lot of economic gains were wiped out as businesses closed, jobs disappeared, and entire industries reorganized. Now, as rural places seek to recover from these setbacks, communities are in a position to reset and create a strong foundation for the future, one rooted in resilience and creative ways of doing economic development.  During the webinar “Rural Resilience and Economic Development” Don Macke of e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems shared e2’s insights into growing a more prosperous rural America rooted in 40 plus years of work. During this session you’ll hear about structural challenges and opportunities in small towns and rural communities, “Mega Trends” in rural development, a prosperity community development framework, how to build entrepreneur-led ecosystems, and much more.  Presentation slides are available here.

Additional resources highlighted in the webinar:

• Ord, Nebraska: An Entrepreneurial Community Case Study
• Planning for a Post-Pandemic World: Lessons from the Great Recession and
  Other Economic Crises
• e2 University Resources
• e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Website

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning process and document that creates the space for your region to identify its strengths and weaknesses and brings together a diverse set of partners to generate good jobs, diversify the economy, and spur economic growth. An effective CEDS allows a region to maximize its economic development potential, as well as engage with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and other federal partners to receive infrastructure and technical assistance grants, such as EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance programs. During this webinar, staff from EDA, NADO RF, and Southeast Conference covered CEDS fundamentals, best practices, and latest trends. The session is intended primarily for new staff working on the CEDS, though it may also be of interest as a refresher for CEDS veterans.  Presentation slides are available here (PDF).

Additional resources highlighted in the webinar:

• EDA’s CEDS Content Guidelines
• CEDS Central
• StatsAmerica /CEDS Resource Library
• Data Deep Dive Webinar Series
• Southeast Alaska 2020 Economic Plan (2105-2020 CEDS)
• Southeast Conference CEDS Planning Documents 
• Southeast by the Numbers

This webinar series is presented as part of the NADO Research Foundation’s Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions program, funded through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration,U.S. Department of Commerce.  The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.