Background on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS)
Every 5 years, as required by the Economic Development Administration, Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development board creates a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. This strategy, also known as a CEDS, answers the fundamental question : “given the current conditions in our area, goals of the region’s residents, and given the strategic limits set by federal agencies, then, what potential actions are possible and which actions should be promoted to improve economic conditions in the region for the betterment of all?”
A CEDS is similar to a municipal comprehensive plan in several important ways. The CEDS is a process requiring public participation and the integration of community feedback through a variety of means: reviewing existing publicly approved plans & strategies, public outreach sessions, and accepting comments and revisions during comment period. Like a comprehensive plan for a municipality, the CEDS will describe existing terrain, land-use, and infrastructure conditions as it relates to current and future economic conditions in the area. The CEDS will outline migration trends, education & employment levels, as well as population density information as it relates to the workforce (a key economic driver). The CEDS will describe patterns in the regional economy and industry mix, as well as anticipated impacts of anticipated trends (local, state, national and global). The CEDS should also align with other state and regional plans of note. Every EDA funded CEDS must now align with the Hazard Mitigation Plans in our region and the NYS Consolidated (housing) Plan. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is intended as a guide for grant applications and appropriate investments in the region’s economy and workforce; therefore, the economic development committee particularly values the 5-year project list developed through the CEDS process.
Developing the next 5-year CEDS
According to the Economic Development Administration, the federal agency that funds 50% of this Economic Development Strategy, a CEDS must incorporate the findings of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans for our three-county Economic Development District, as well as the HUD Housing Strategy for the region (in this case, the New York State Consolidated Plan). STC is now working to incorporate the most relevant results, findings, goals, and strategies from the those documents into the region’s upcoming 2025 CEDS. These required documents can be thought of as the ‘bones’ of the Strategy; proposed actions and recommendations consider and build off of the FEMA and HUD plans, not contradict them. STC is incorporating these documents as early as possible in the planning process for this reason. See the posts below for more details on the plans.
Appalachia Envisioned: ARC’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan
About the Appalachian Regional CommissionThe Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC, the Commission) is a regional economic development agency representing a unique partnership of federal, state, andlocal
Steuben County Hazard Mitigation Plan
The overarching goal of all of these emergency management activities is the prevention or minimizing of loss of life and property in disaster situations. The
Schuyler County 2021-2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan
The purpose of this hazard mitigation plan is to identify and plan for both natural and human-caused hazards facing Schuyler County and to develop strategies
2019 Chemung County Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines Mitigation as sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and
New York State Consolidated Housing Plan 2021-2025
The Consolidated Plan must be prepared every five years and it must be updated annually through annual action plans. Its purposes are to:• assess the
STC’s process and plan for developing the 2025-2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties.
The guidelines in a CEDS are based on data gathered through the ‘planning’ processes outlined above within the context of other
approved federal and state plans from important federal agencies, like: FEMA, HUD, USDA, STREDC, NYS ESD and more. County and regional plans, as well as specific assessments of existing resources are the ‘muscle’ behind a CEDS. Sharing detailed information about these ‘muscles’ will highlight the strengths and weakness of the the region’s economy. The 2025-2030 STC CEDS will have a particular focus on demographics, workforce, infrastructure, energy resources, and networks of existing economic development partners. these parts of the CEDS will provide baseline information about how the Region’s economy can be responsive to particular trends, project proposals, and business ideas. This part of a CEDS will also highlight any existing weaknesses, that could be improved though local action, or recommend ‘crutches’ (outside supports or mechanism) to accommodate a weakness in the economy, that would support additional beneficial development or improvements in the the region’s existing conditions.
Other state and regional plans/strategies will also shape the development of the 5-year CEDS. State funds and incentives are an important part of the region’s economic development landscape; therefore the region’s CEDS should be compatible/aligned with the findings goals and strategies put forth by the state. Based on feedback from the Economic Development Policy and Strategy Committee and STC’s Staff STC will incorporate relevant State and regional documents into the CEDS Development process. These documents are like the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage of the CEDS. These state documents, the funding that can be accessed by aligning projects/programs/grant applications, and county-wide initiatives to these strategies are the linkages to funding that make a project possible.
STC’s staff will review the data from many sources to compile the necessary background information about the region’s economy.
Based on feedback from the Economic Development and Strategy committee, the most useful part of the CEDS is the project list, which includes some specific detail about the anticipated projects in the next 5-years that will support the region’s overall economic goals. Many projects are included in the CEDS, and projects listed in a CEDS may earn higher scores on State and federal grant applications; as the funding agency can be assured that this project has been evaluated by a committee/board, and is generally consistent with regional economic development plans. STC’s EDPSC and Board also highlight specific projects as ‘vital’ to development in the region; vital projects are fully supported by the EDPSC and STC’s Board. These vital project will receive additional support from STC, for the betterment of the region’s economy.
Public Outreach Strategy
In an effort to facilitate meaningful, informative engagement throughout the development of the final annual update to Southern Tier Central’s 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), STC staff has created this working Public Engagement Strategy document.
Public participation in the economic development process can help STC and local governments better understand development policies and their potential impacts at the local level. Stakeholders can utilize the CEDS as a guide to understand the regional economy and how to take action to improve it. By listing projects in the CEDS, funding applications may receive a higher score from evaluators.
STC’s Staff will review and incorporate the guidelines from many plans and strategies into the 2025-2030 CEDS drafts. if you think we have left out a notable resource- please send an email to Vehlen@stcplanning.org with a link to the document you’d like to share, or comment on STC’s CEDS Facebook post with your thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions about a CEDS
A CEDS is funded by the Economic Development Administration and though matching grant funds. Each CEDS is developed in accordance with contractual requirements from the Economic Development Administration.