Brian Kelsey, Founder of Civic Analytics, addressed ways that strategic plans can be aligned to maximize resources and to present a unified, cohesive, and inclusive plan (as well as develop and deliver an inclusive planning process). This presentation occurred at Create, Challenge, Change: Economic Development Conference for the Denver Region in August 2016.

1. EDD/CEDS Training
NADO EDD/CEDS Training Program
Place
Date

2. Training Overview
Guiding principles: what is
economic development?
Roles and characteristics
of effective EDDs.
Expectations for a CEDS
under new guidelines.
Publicly available data.
2

3. Guiding Principles
3
Economic development is process of creating
wealth and raising living standards.
Every community or region has unique assets
that form basis of competitive advantage.
Outcomes must be measurable (SMART).

4. 4 http://www.areadevelopment.com/corpSurveyResults/
What is “economic” development?

5. 5 Source: Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference

6. 6 http://www.sovaeconomy.comSouth Hill, VA

7. Lynchburg, VA http://region2000dashboard.org

8. Roles of Effective EDDs
Convener
Researcher
Advocate
Entrepreneur
Leader
The Upper Minnesota Valley Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2013-2017
8

10. EDD Core Responsibilities
10
Update your CEDS at least every five years.
Provide recommendations to EDA regarding
CEDS conformance of grant applications.
Provide 1:1 match for planning grant.
Submit progress reports and GPRA.
Participate in peer reviews.

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13
http://www.sustainableplacesproject.com

14. 14SouthWest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs http://goscape.org
Regional 9 EDD of Southwest Colorado
Durango, CO
5 counties | 94,000 population

15. 15http://www.nwrpc.com/
Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Spooner, WI
10 counties | 5 tribes | 179,000 pop

16. 16http://www.nmdc.org
Northern Maine Development Commission
Caribou, ME
2 counties
104,000 pop

17. 17

18. 18
http://eapdd.com

19. 19
http://eapdd.com

20. 20
http://floridarpcscorecard.com

21. 21

22. Discussion – Examples?
22
Convener
Researcher
Advocate
Entrepreneur
Leader

23. 23
CEDS CONTENT GUIDELINES
http://www.eda.gov/ceds

24. Upjohn Institute survey of
5,000 IEDC members:
How many EDOs are aware
of a CEDS in their region?
14% rural
4% urban

25. “CEDS is about the process,
not the product.”

26. Keys to approaching your CEDS
Understand what drives
local buy-in for regional
economic development.
Write a plan that people
want to implement.
Collective impact – EDD
alone is not responsible
for achieving goals.
26
“Vehicle for collaboration”
“Roadmap for prosperity”
“Flexible framework for
coordinated planning”
“Our value proposition”

27. High-Quality/High-Impact CEDS
Identifies region’s competitive advantage.
Demonstrates EDD’s grasp of key trends.
Tells a compelling story about future.
Commits to measurable progress.
Motivates action.
http://www.knowyourregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EDA-CEDS-Standards-of-Excellence.pdf

28. CEDS: Suggested Framework
Vision Statement
Call to Action
SMART Goals
Strategies
Actions
Why
What
How
Summary
background &
SWOT analysis
Evaluation
framework
Strategic direction
& action plan
28
How planners
(should) think
How normal
people think
EDA CEDS
Requirements

29. Why SMART goals?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Every goal in your
CEDS should meet
these criteria.
29
If we won’t commit to measurable progress, how can
we expect stakeholders to take the CEDS seriously?

30. 30
http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINALCEDSReport.2013.pdf
Example: Call to Action

31. http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINALCEDSReport.2013.pdf
Example: SMART Goals

32. Example: SMART Goals

33. CEDS Hedging Hall of Fame
“Foster the development of…”
“Encourage the growth of…”
“Facilitate the promotion of…”
“Support the creation of…”
33

34. Challenges
34
We don’t control
the economy.
Of course not. But
would you invest
in something with
no clearly defined
goals or expected
ROI – why do we
ask others to?

35. Challenges
35
We don’t control
decisions of other
organizations that
impact region.
You don’t have to.
SMART goals are
achieved through
collective impact.
SMART goals are
what, not how.

36. GPRA (Jobs/PI) ≠ Totality of CEDS
36
EDA CEDS Content Guidelines
http://eda.gov/ceds/content/evaluation-framework.htm

37. Data/Research Challenges
37
Most secondary data
is rearview mirror.
Lack of reliable data
for small/rural areas.
Home-based business.
Cost of primary data.
Tyranny of nominal vs.
percentage gains for
reporting impact.
Competing voices or
“too many cooks” in
regional analysis.
Planner perfectionism.

38. • 4.9% of New Mexico workers or 42,500 work primarily from
home
• 44% or 18,000 of them are economic-base or earning their
income from outside the state (we estimate 20,000 now)
• “Economic base solos” or home based workers represent 5.6% of
the state’s economic base – higher than manufacturing
• 60% or 25,000 of Solo home based workers are self employed
• 39% or 16,000 are employees allowed to work from home
NM E-Solos

39. http://seveds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/FINALCEDSReport.2013.pdf
Example: SMART Goals

40. Practicing SMART Goals
40
Hold 4 small business
workshops this year
Support workforce
development
Maintain the region’s
quality of life
Is this a SMART goal?
Why or why not?
What changes would
you make to it?

41. Performance Metrics Matter
http://www.nado.org/performance-metrics-matter/
41

42. 42

43. 43

44. 44

45. http://clustermapping.us

46. http://statsamerica.org

47. 47
http://youreconomy.org

48. 48
https://www.irs.gov/uac/SOI-Tax-Stats-Migration-Data

49. 49 http://flowsmapper.geo.census.gov/

50. 50
CEDS CONTENT GUIDELINES
http://www.eda.gov/ceds

51. 51
CEDS CONTENT GUIDELINES
5. Infusing economic resiliency into the CEDS document
“. . .each CEDS must promote Regional resiliency and be unique and
responsive to the relevant Region.”
• Economic resiliency = An area’s ability to withstand, prevent, or quickly
recover from major disruptions (i.e., ‘shocks’) to its underlying
economic base.
• CEDS serves as a critical mechanism to help regions identify
vulnerabilities and withstand or recover from disruptions.
• Integrating resiliency into the CEDS can take multiple forms (need to
identify assets and vulnerabilities regardless)

52. Resiliency
Consult NADO Resiliency
Library for inspiration.
Work w/ your EDD board,
CEDS committee, & other
stakeholders to identify a
relevant definition.
Identify appropriate ways
to measure resiliency.
Incorporate into CEDS.
52

53. 53

54. 54

55. 55
http://www.swfrpc.org/content/Economic_Development/CEDS/09-03-2015_SWFRPC_CEDS_Resiliency_chapter_rev.pdf
Example: SMART Goals (Resiliency)

56. 56
http://www.swfrpc.org/content/Economic_Development/CEDS/09-03-2015_SWFRPC_CEDS_Resiliency_chapter_rev.pdf
Example: SMART Goals (Resiliency)

57. 57
Annual Change in Real GDP, Index 2001=0
(Chained 2009 Dollars)

58. Other Topics
58
Project list – a love/hate relationship.
Strategies for public participation.
Primary data collection methods.
Creative fundraising models.
Others?

59. National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
and the NADO Research Foundation
400 North Capitol Street, NW | Suite 390 | Washington, DC 20001
202.624.7806 | info@nado.org
NADO.org
Regional Strategies. Solutions. Partnerships.