A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, serves as a strategic blueprint for economic and community development across the region.
MORPC worked with regional partners One Columbus, the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange, and economic development leaders across 11 counties to develop and complete a CEDS, which can be found below.
The development of the CEDS was guided by a strategy committee of county economic developers, private sector representatives, transit agencies, higher education and workforce development stakeholders began meeting to further develop the CEDS.
The CEDS includes actions on topics such as infrastructure investment, housing, broadband, mobility and more. Through it, the 11-county region will be further able to:
- Align regional goals to meet EDA requirements and provide an economic assessment
- Streamline resources to analyze and consider new opportunities for regional economic development funding
- Plan for, respond to and recover from economic shocks and displacement
- Attract more federal funding and technical assistance
The completed CEDS document was approved by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) on February 1, 2022. With an approved CEDS in place, MORPC applied for an Economic Development District (EDD) designation, which was awarded by the U.S. EDA in September 2023. The CEDS, and ultimately the EDD designation, will unlock new funding sources and key economic development tools across our region.
More information on comprehensive economic development strategies is available here.
The CEDS Committee is responsible for the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of the CEDS.
