Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan for the East Arkansas Planning & Development District (EAPDD)
A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, is a document
designed to engage cooperation between the public and private sectors in the
resiliency and health of the local economy.
​
Serving as both an analytical framework and a roadmap, a CEDS examines the
target region’s economic and social well-being while guiding regional goals,
strategies, investment priorities, and resources to benefit the region. A CEDS
seeks to maximize the target region’s unique advantages and minimize its
disadvantages. Finally, a CEDS provides a benchmark for regional economic success.
​
The CEDS is a mandated document by the Economic Development Administration
(EDA) to define Planning and Development Districts throughout the nation. The East Arkansas Planning and Development District (EAPDD) and the CEDS Strategy Committee are responsible for providing this document as a reference for economic conditions, development strategies, and other projects throughout the 12-county district. This CEDS is not intended to be a “stand-alone” document, but rather one of several key tools used in economic development in the EAPDD region. Together, these elements ensure that the CEDS remains a living, collaborative framework—one that reflects the region’s current challenges, builds on its strengths, and provides a foundation for long-term economic growth and resilience.
​
The previous plan for 2020 to 2025 can be located below.
​