Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

The Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer) is a non-profit, public-private regional economic development agency serving the 20 towns, two boroughs and two Native American Tribal Nations of Southeastern Connecticut. seCTer’s mission is to promote and preserve the region’s attractiveness, to encourage new businesses, and to assist and to nurture existing and expanding local enterprises. seCTer is the agency responsible for developing and implementing the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Southeastern Connecticut Economic Development District in close partnership/coordination with the Southeastern CT Council of Governments and other regional organizations. The Executive Summary offers an overview of what our region has planned. For an in-depth look, the appendices offer the data, public comment and regional resiliency reports.

seCTer staff wrote and implemented the region’s first CEDS in 2002. To date, four CEDS have been written by seCTer with input from hundreds of partners throughout the region. In 2013, seCTer obtained Economic Development District status for the twenty-two cities, towns and boroughs in the region. EDDs set the stage for regional collaboration towards cohesive planning for economic development success. Southeastern Connecticut was the first designated EDD in the state, demonstrating the long-standing spirit of collaboration in our united region.

The purpose of the CEDS is to provide direction and focus as well as a framework from which to proceed and to which local plans can align to gain validity and strength to help facilitate implementation. The CEDS provides possible strategies to develop the flexibility needed to adapt to both macro- and micro-economic conditions, and to fully utilize the region’s unique advantages to maximize economic opportunity for its residents.

Did you know our region’s 2017 CEDS was recognized as a national best practice model by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)? This is a significant recognition of what a dedicated and diverse team, working towards common goals, accomplished.

Take a moment to check out the NADO article. You’ll be glad you did!