Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee is responsible for planning programs to develop economic growth in the region. The result of this planning process is the Southern Alleghenies Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) results from continuous planning for economic development.

The CEDS relies on broad-based and diverse community participation. It contains:

• An analysis of problems and opportunities related to economic and community development
• Background and history of economic development in the region
• Discussion of the current economy
• Discussion of community participation in the planning efforts
• Goals and objectives
• An action plan for achieving goals and objectives for suggested projects
• Performance measurements

The CEDS Committee is the principal facilitator for economic development planning and implementation, responsible for developing, updating, or replacing a strategy.

The Committee represents all major interests of the region to ensure that viewpoints from all components of the community are considered and to take advantage of local skills and resources when developing and implementing programs:

• Public officials
• Community leaders
• Representatives of workforce development boards
• Institutions of higher education
• Minority representatives
• Labor groups

The CEDS Committee meets annually to review and prioritize economic development projects, and Special meetings are held as necessary to update the CEDS priorities and to participate with other SAP&DC committees, such as regional transportation, land use, and individual projects and programs related to economic development.