Jane Reimer, EDA Denver, US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, Denver, CO

1. CEDS Best Practices
and Partnerships:
An Update from EDA – Denver Regional Office
04/11/23

2.  Is it a plan or a process?
A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a strategy-driven
plan for regional economic development, but it’s ALSO. . .
. . .a collaborative planning process that incorporates a broad array of
perspectives -- it brings together firms, institutions, and local governments to
better understand, position and leverage regional assets to enhance economic
prosperity.
What is a CEDS?

3.  EDA believes that good economic development starts with
good economic development planning. . .
 Capacity building. . .and planning to build that capacity
 Inherent value in the collaborative planning process
 Conduit for resources to your region
Why is the CEDS important?

4. CEDS Content Guidelines
https://www.eda.gov/CEDS
 Provides new CEDS content guidance on
the required sections of the CEDS
 Summary Background
 SWOT
 Strategic Direction/Action Plan
 Evaluation Framework
 Economic Resilience
 Workforce Development
 Equity
 Best practices, case studies, and links
 Collection of suggestions and
recommendations. . .not a list of additional
requirements.

5. CEDS Content Guidelines Updates
 New/updated sections of the CEDS Content Guidelines:
• Climate Resilience
• Workforce Development
• Equity
 As usual: heavy on “recommended resources”. . .and no “one-size-fits-all”
approach
 Of note, the recommended resources throughout all sections of the document have been reviewed and
updated to reflect the most currently relevant tools and information.
 Guidelines should be officially released in the next few weeks

6. CEDS Content Guidelines Updates
 Additional Items:
- equity-based language throughout the document
- section on broadband to the SWOT portion of the document
- Environmental Sustainability to the SWOT
 Removed sections:
- opportunity zones
- SWOT sections on workforce considerations, spatial
efficiencies/sustainability, natural hazards, and equitable development

7.  CEDS process is a crucial forum for scanning, prioritizing and coordinating a
strategic, regional approach for the integrated use of myriad local, state and federal
funds.
Did you know? Under its Strategic Economic and Community Development
Program, USDA provides priority access to set aside funds in several of its rural
development programs for projects that are aligned to a regional CEDS. Ask your local
USDA RD Office about it!
 Volume and complexity of federal support for economic development can be difficult
to navigate.
 EDDs are convenors, curators, connectors, networkers, facilitators and
implementors.
But you don’t have to go it alone!
https://eda.gov/contact/ EDI@eda.gov
Engaging with EDA and Federal Partners

8.  EDD Community of Practice (CoP)
 Learn more: https://www.nado.org/eddcop/
 New tools/resources:
• National Economic Resilience Data Explorer (NERDE)
(https://www.anl.gov/national-economic-resilience-data-explorer-nerde)
• Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI)
(https://www.anl.gov/dis/economic-development-capacity-index)
Upcoming for the EDDs

9. Questions?
Jane Reimer
Community & Economic Development Planner
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 431
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 844-4090
jreimer@eda.gov