Throughout the month of September, the NADO Research Foundation hosted a three-part webinar series that took a deeper dive into the recent revisions to EDA’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Content Guidelines. The Guidelines suggest how to develop the document’s format and substance to make the strongest, most useful and effective CEDS possible – a true roadmap and driver of regional economic resilience. Building more resilient communities starts with better planning – planning that is comprehensive, forward-thinking, and goal-oriented.
These free, hour-long webinars showcased economic development districts throughout the country that have taken innovative planning approaches to integrating economic resilience into their CEDS through aligning existing regional planning processes, robustly analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and developing relevant and realistic metrics for measuring their progress.
Planning More Efficiently & Effectively: Aligning the CEDS with Other Regional Plans
Our first installment focused on aligning CEDS with other regional planning efforts. We were joined by representatives from two Economic Development Districts that have found opportunities to “connect the dots” and develop robust CEDS that achieve multiple benefits for their regions.
Click here for the webinar PowerPoint slides (PDF)
Presenters:
- Dave Ives, AICP, Sustainability/Planning Coordinator, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (Washington, DC)
- Mary Rump, Transportation & Regional Development Director, East Central Iowa Council of Governments (Cedar Rapids, IA)
- Amanda Hoey, Executive Director, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (The Dalles, OR)
Strengthening the SWOT: Identifying & Understanding Regional Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
Our second installment focused on strengthening the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) analysis. Training was provided on how to craft a more effective SWOT analysis and incorporate the findings into goal setting and performance metrics. Attendees also heard from an economic development district that is currently using information from a robust SWOT analysis to inform the resilience component of their CEDS update.
Click here for the webinar PowerPoint slides (PDF)
Presenters:
- Dave Ives, AICP, Sustainability/Planning Coordinator, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (Washington, DC)
- Brian Kelsey, Economic Development Consultant, NADO, and Principal/Founder of Civic Analytics (Austin, TX)
- Jennifer Pellechio, Deputy Director/Economic Development/Grants Management, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (Fort Myers, FL)
Measuring Your Progress: The Importance of Performance Metrics
Our final installment highlighted the importance of developing S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals and well-crafted performance metrics. Participants received a brief training on how to approach goal setting and building associated performance metrics and learned from peers that have incorporated strong, locally-driven goals and metrics into their CEDS.
Click here for the webinar PowerPoint slides (PDF)
Presenters:
- Dave Ives, AICP, Sustainability/Planning Coordinator, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (Washington, DC)
- Brian Kelsey, Economic Development Consultant, NADO, and Principal/Founder of Civic Analytics (Austin, TX)
- Susan McMahon, Associate Director, Windham Regional Commission (Brattleboro, VT)
- Laura Sibilia, Director of Economic Development, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (Brattleboro, VT)
This webinar series was conducted with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Contact Sara James at [email protected] with any questions.
