WHAT IS A CEDS?

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a federally-required regional economic development plan that allows an area to be eligible for various funding programs under the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. A CEDS also serves as a roadmap for regional economic development in general—linking, leveraging, and aligning local assets and stakeholders to achieve regional goals. 

Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development District (SMEDD) is responsible for developing the CEDS with the guidance of our Strategy Committee and the input of many jurisdictions, tribes, business owners, non-profits, and community members. To develop this document, we analyzed regional economic conditions and identified opportunities to formulate this region-specific strategy-driven plan for economic development. SMEDD was started in 2016, and completed the region’s second CEDS in 2022. 

Read the current CEDS here.