What is a CEDS?

CEDS stands for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. A CEDS is a long-term, consensus-driven, local planning document that intends to guide economic development throughout a region or county. The Economic Development Administration (EDA), which is the federal bureau for economic development in the United States, manages the content guidelines and requirements for the CEDS process and document and grants final approval of all CEDS plans.

What are the benefits of having a CEDS?

The CEDS is a requirement to be eligible to compete for EDA and other federal funding opportunities. It is also a requirement to be eligible for many Washington State funding opportunities. The CEDS also provides a long-term vision and plan for economic development in Island County, making development more programmatic and efficient.

Why did the EDC oversee the effort to develop an Island County CEDS?

The Economic Development Council (EDC) for Island County is the associate development organization (ADO) for Island County, which is a Washington State Department of Commerce designation, and is the only countywide economic development agency.

Who funded the development of the Island County CEDS?

Island County, the Cities of Langley and Oak Harbor, and the Town of Coupeville cost shared the funding of the planning and writing of the CEDS document.

Who managed the planning, development, and writing of the CEDS?

The EDC for Island County contracted with Island County, and other jurisdictions sharing the cost of the project, to manage and oversee the CEDS planning and development process.

The EDC for Island County has contracted with consultant Jennifer Noveck to manage and complete all aspects of the project.

How was feedback be evaluated and incorporated?
The consultant reviewed each comment and piece of feedback with the Review Committee and assess what changes, if any, should be made to the document. The most important factors in the decision to incorporate or not was if the feedback complies with the CEDS purpose and guidelines per the EDA and if it is fits within the vision, priorities, goals, and objectives broadly established in the document by stakeholders.

Who will carry out the Island County CEDS Action Plan?

Multiple actors and jurisdictions involved in the development of the CEDS will be responsible for carrying out and implementing the Island County CEDS 2024-2028 Section 3: Action Plan.

Each partner listed in the Action Plan is expected to be working on and implementing any action items that they are listed as a partner for.

Question not answered here? Email ceds@edcislandcounty.org for clarification or help.