UM-Flint EDA University Center to create CEDS plan

The University of Michigan-Flint's EDA University Center for Community & Economic Development has received a $35,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and additional support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to work with community partners to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan for the three-county region encompassing Genesee, Lapeer, and Shiawassee counties. 

The CEDS contributes to effective economic development in America's communities and regions through a locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning process. The funding follows the recent announcement of the EDA University Center's five-year grant award from the EDA. 

The EDA University Center will work alongside a CEDS Steering Committee and a diverse group of stakeholders to develop the plan. The first step will be creating the committee, which will be composed of economic development organizations, industry, government, residents, educational institutions, health care entities, and community organizations from each county. 

For the EDA University Center, collaboration with other community leaders is necessary to shape the future of economic development in the region. "With the recent news of the EDA's significant increase in available funding, this is the perfect time to collaborate on a plan to identify top development projects that need financial support. We thank the team at the University of Michigan-Flint for their leadership in putting this initiative together, and look forward to working with them and other regional economic development partners to develop a high-quality CEDS," said Justin Horvath, CEO and President of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership. 

Through the EDA University Center's resources and expertise, the innovative vision of the CEDS plan can come to life. This economic development plan will provide strategic direction, actionable goals, and metrics that will guide the three-county region for the next five years. 

For more information about the EDA University Center and their community efforts, visit umflint.edu/oed.