The first-ever National CEDS Forum was held in Columbus, OH on June 18-20, 2019.  Over 75 participants from 31 states and Washington, DC came together for training sessions, networking opportunities, small group discussions, and a mobile workshop tour to Wilmington, OH.  Attendees learned about the latest best practices and resources available to support their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) planning, development, and implementation.  Session topics focused on economic resilience and diversification; accessing and interpreting data; aligning the CEDS with other plans; outreach and engagement; Opportunity Zones; and more.  Select sessions were held in conjunction with the National Regional Transportation Conference.  To learn more about the National CEDS Forum, click here to view the conference program.  Training sessions have been approved for AICP credit.  Click here to access APA’s page to self-report.

The National CEDS Forum was organized as part of the NADO Research Foundation’s Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions program, funded through a grant from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA).

Attendees from 31 states and Washington, DC convened at the National CEDS Forum in Columbus, OH to discuss best practices and resources to support CEDS planning, development, and implementation

Presentation Materials

“Back from the Brink: A Visit to Wilmington, OH”

• Taylor Stuckert, Executive Director, Clinton County Regional Planning Commission, Wilmington, OH

Community Engagement for Complete Communities Interactive Workshop

• Jeff Moore, Senior Planner, Neel-Shaffer, Inc., Louisville, KY
• Patti Clare, Senior Planner, Neel-Shaffer, Inc., Louisville, KY

Regional Planning and Substance Use Disorder Interactive Workshop

• Michael Betz, Assistant Professor of Human Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
• Ryan Brumfield, Senior Transportation Adviser, Appalachian Regional Commission, Washington, DC
• Carrie Kissel, Associate Director, NADO Research Foundation, Washington, DC (Opioid Misuse Mapping Tool; Federal Programs Rural Resource Guide; Opportunities to Build Partnerships through RDO Programs and Services worksheet)  

Getting the Most Out of StatsAmerica to Support Your Planning Efforts

• Carol Rogers, Deputy Director & CIO, Indiana Business Research Center, Indianapolis, IN

Understanding Development Finance in Transportation and Economic Development

• Tim Fisher, Director, Government and External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies, Columbus, OH

Innovative Transportation and Economic Development Initiatives

• Tad Erickson, Senior Regional Development Planner, Region Five Development Commission, Staples MN
• Kelly Hitchcock, Planning and Development Director, Central Virginia Planning District Commission, Lynchburg, VA
• Nathaniel Kaelin, Economic Development & Infrastructure Officer, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Columbus, OH
• Naomi Stein, Senior Analyst, EDR Group, Pittsburgh, PA

Lunch Session: Putting the CEDS in Context and a Conversation with EDA

• Brett Schwartz, Associate Director, NADO Research Foundation, Washington, DC
• David Ives, Planning Coordinator/Interim Director, Performance & National Programs Division, US Economic Development Administration, Washington, DC 

Strengthening Your Region’s Resilience through Economic Diversification

• Erik Pages, President, Entreworks Consulting, Arlington, VA
  

CEDS In Action Snapshots

• Emily Gojkovich, Economic Development Planner, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments, Silver City, NM
• Emily Hathcock, Associate Director of Planning and Development, Barren River Area Development District, Bowling Green, KY
• Kim Marousek, Director of Planning, Capital Region Planning Commission, Baton Rouge, LA
• Nate Robertson, Community and Economic Development Planner, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Haverhill, MA
• Shawn Schloesser, Community and Business Development Specialist, Region Nine Development Commission, Mankato, MN
• Lauren Subler, Economic Development Planner, Region XII Council of Governments, Carroll, IA

Resilience in Focus

• Josh Human, Senior Hazard Mitigation & Resilience Leader, Stantec, Louisville, KY 

Building Your Community’s Opportunity Zones Strategy

• Tim Fisher, Director, Government and External Affairs, Council of Development Finance Agencies, Columbus, OH

Economic Development Integration and Regional Plan Alignment

• Nancy Gilbert, Senior Program Analyst, EDI, US Economic Development Administration, Washington, DC
• John Laswick, Deputy Director, Entitlement Communities Program (CDBG), US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
• Doug Lynott, Director, EDI, US Economic Development Administration, Washington, DC

Getting in the Zone: Supporting Startups, Scaleups, and Becoming Internationally Known

• Rob Scott, Great Lakes Regional Administrator, US Small Business Administration, Columbus, OH
  

Focus on the Future – Trends Shaping Today’s Most Modern CEDS

• John Rees, Director of Research, Avalanche Consulting, Austin, TX

The National CEDS Forum was organized by the NADO Research Foundation (NADO RF) using Federal funds under award ED17HDQ3030005 from the US Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the Department of Commerce.

This event is part of NADO RF’s Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions program, supported through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.  Please visit our CEDS training and resource archive at www.CEDCentral.com to learn more.