Presentation materials and an accompanying workbook from a recent disaster preparedness workshop for EDDs are now available. These resources can help staff assess vulnerabilities, map...
Read More »
Presentation materials and an accompanying workbook from a recent disaster preparedness workshop for EDDs are now available. These resources can help staff assess vulnerabilities, map...
Read More »
The annual Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and improving quality of life.
Read More »
A career with an EDD or RDO offers the chance to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the communities and regions you serve. In this...
Read More »Presentation materials and an accompanying workbook from a recent disaster preparedness workshop for EDDs are now available. These resources can help staff assess vulnerabilities, map regional networks, align planning efforts, and develop a 90-day action agenda to support regional preparedness and strengthen economic resilience.
The annual Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional economic development and improving quality of life.
This webinar explores how cooperative models can help communities respond to disruption, retain jobs, and reposition key industries for growth.
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.
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.
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.
The Business of Nuclear: Communities & Industry Working Together NADO Attends 2026 Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) Forum In April 2026, Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) hosted their fifth
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
A career with an EDD or RDO offers the chance to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the communities and regions you serve. In this video, you’ll hear from four experienced leaders in regional economic development as they reflect on their career paths, the impact of their work, and what it takes to succeed in the field.
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.
In 2023, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments (UCPCOG) in eastern North Carolina received funding to hire a dedicated staff member to establish a Community Forestry Program. The new position allowed UCPCOG to expand its regional service offerings and respond to growing member interest in urban and community forestry as a tool to support livability, resilience, and local capacity building, particularly in economically distressed communities with limited staff and resources.
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.