Across the country, there are nearly 400 federally-designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs) that promote economic development planning and project implementation in distressed urban, suburban, and rural regions. They provide important administrative, capacity building, and technical support to local communities and serve as an important convener for region-wide initiatives. EDDs also write and maintain their region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning process and document. Developing a CEDS and having it approved by the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) opens the door to funding and deeper collaboration with federal and state partners.
This webinar, co-sponsored by the State International Development Organizations (SIDO), the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness / State Economic Development Executives (SEDE) Network, and the NADO Research Foundation was designed for state-level officials and staff to learn more about Economic Development Districts, the CEDS, and the value of forging strong partnership between states and EDDs. In the recording, you’ll hear from federal, state, and regional leaders about how collaboration at all levels can support economic resilience, wider prosperity, and long-term economic growth for your state.
Click to download the slide deck (PDF)
Speakers:
- Rachel Adams, Program Manager, State International Development Organizations
- David Ives, Deputy Director, Performance, Research and National Technical Assistance Division, U.S. Economic Development Administration
- Mereb Hagos, Program Manager, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness
- Joe Barker, Executive Director, Southwest Tennessee Development District
- Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner, Rural Development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
- Brett Schwartz, Associate Director, NADO Research Foundation (moderator)
Additional Resources:
- Economic Development Districts Background
- U.S. Economic Development Administration American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Programs
- U.S. Economic Development Administration Planning Program and the CEDS
- CEDS Central Training & Resources
- USA Competes
- State-Local Alignment Resources
This webinar was delivered through the “Enhancing State and Local EDD Engagement to Support COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency” project prepared by the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) using Federal funds under award ED21HDQ3070060 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
