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Universities as Regional Anchors: How Economic Development Districts Are Prioritizing Higher Education Partnerships in the CEDS

Drawing on data from the State and Local Economic Development Strategies (SLEDS) database, this brief from the University Economic Development Association examines how EDDs can better incorporate higher education institutions into their CEDS process and plans and shares examples of how EDDs use the CEDS to foster stronger partnerships with universities and colleges.

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[Webinar]: Building Partnerships to Support Regional Economic Growth

Over the past four years, New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) has managed the Economic Partnership Alliance, training 141 organizations and supporting 24 cross-sector partnerships across the country. Insights from this initiative, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), have been distilled into the Economic Alliance Playbook, which were shared on this webinar hosted by the NADO Research Foundation as part of the EDD Community of Practice.

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EDDs in Action: Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission

This installment of the EDDs in Action video series showcases the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC), an Economic Development District (EDD) serving five counties in Virginia.  In this video, you’ll see how CSPDC works alongside local partners and businesses to strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity through investments in site readiness, workforce training, business development, and placemaking.

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Strategic Planning And Revitalization for Communities

East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) is using a creative method to plan with small communities in their region. SPARC, Strategic Planning And Revitalization for Communities, is a small community technical assistance program that combines visioning workshops, design consultation, and grant assistance to help communities move projects forward.

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Power Regions: Rural Energy Academy Visits Austin 

On April 17, 2026, NADO’s Rural Energy Academy (REA) team hosted a post-conference session at the University of Texas JJ Pickle Research Campus following the Southwest Regional Economic Development Association (SWREDA) conference in Austin, TX. Economic Development District (EDD) leaders from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas spent the afternoon hearing from researchers, practitioners, and community leaders on pressing energy topics facing rural communities today before embarking on a tour of the UT Energy Institute data center.

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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.

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