Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

 

CEDS

COIC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update is under way because:

• The impacts of the national economic recession are particularly acute in Central Oregon, where levels of unemployment, job loss, and diminished business activity are higher than most regions;
• Economic development conditions, capacity, community readiness, and levels of infrastructure vary across the region;
• Regional-scale problems and challenges increasingly require multi-jurisdictional collaboration and coordination;
• Additional grant and loan resources are needed to support communities and economic development efforts; and
• Broad regional support for economic development priorities is necessary to focus local resources and efforts and to maximize access to state and federal funding opportunities.

The strategy will include:

• “Critical components” for local and regional economies.
• A roadmap of economic development services, resources, and roles.
• Local economic development project needs within the categories of employment lands, infrastructure, business assistance/incentives, workforce and education, industry/sector support, and community readiness.
• Regional-scale economic development issues and challenges.
• A strategy to identify funding resources and to implement high priority projects and initiatives.

Regional Context:  The Central Oregon CEDS will serve as a coordinating strategy that integrates community, industry, and organizational economic development plans, strategies and priorities.  The CEDS will not duplicate efforts or supersede local, on-the-ground economic development efforts; rather, the CEDS will be an over-arching roadmap for regional economic development that results in identification of needed actions and broadly-supported priorities.

Outcomes:  Economic development roles, services and resources will be defined, goals for economic development will be identified, and needed projects and actions will be prioritized.  The CEDS will be broadly supported in the region, and will be a tool for accessing state and federal funding to support high-priority economic development initiatives.

Timeline:
COIC engage cities, counties, economic development partners, and other organizations in this update.

Mar - April	Presentations to local governments and economic development partners
April	Regional Priority identification process begins
May - June	Development of Draft #1
July- Aug	Comment period
August	Development of Draft #2
September	Regional CEDS meeting #2
October	Develop economic development priority list
	Draft #3
Oct - Nov	Comment period
Nov - Dec	Presentations to local governments and economic development partners
Jan 2011	Presentations to local governments and economic development partners

Central Oregon Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Economic Development District

COIC is designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) as the “Economic Development District” for Central Oregon.

Within this role COIC is responsible for identifying priority economic development project needs within the region, articulating regional needs to the EDA, and assisting local governments in applying for grant funding through the EDA.  EDA grant categories include: public works infrastructure, technical assistance, planning, and economic adjustment.
 
As an Economic Development District, COIC is also responsible for creating and maintaining a regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  The current CEDS was completed in 2007.

The CEDS is the result of a local planning effort, and serves as a guide for regional economic growth.

 

For more information on the CEDS process, to make a comment or provide feedback, and/or to be added to the email list, contact:

Andrew Spreadborough, Aspreadborough@coic.org , (541) 504-3306