The Southeastern Connecticut Region, which includes the 21 municipalities within New London County, has undergone a radical restructuring of its economy since the end of the Cold War and defense downsizing in the early 1990's. 

In 1992 with the opening of Foxwoods Resort Casino, followed closely by the Mohegan Sun Casino, the regional economy, which had always had a significant family tourism component, became a tourism powerhouse in the Northeast.  While over 17,000 defense industry positions disappeared, over 20,000 new jobs were created in hospitality businesses.

Recognizing the challenges in again becoming too dependent upon a single industry, the Southeastern CT Enterprise Region and the Southeastern CT Council of Governments,  proceeded to update their 1992 Strategic Plan, taking into account new realities and new opportunities in the regional economy.  The new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) was successfully submitted for approval to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) in 2004.  In 2006 an update of goals and ranking of identified municipal and regional infrastructure projects was also submitted and approved by EDA.

Click the links below to view the regional economic development strategy reports.