Economic Development & Planning
Greater Franklin County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Program & Economic Development District (EDD)
CEDS funding is being pursued to help with the rehabilitation of Putnam Hall in Orange.
Project Overview
The CEDS Program provides coordinated regional economic development planning for twenty-nine towns for Franklin County plus the towns of Amherst, Athol and Phillipston. This program maintains the region’s eligibility for federal Economic Development Administration funding programs. In 2006, the Greater Franklin County Region was designated an Economic Development District (EDD) by the Economic Development Administration. The program is guided by the CEDS Committee and the EDD Governing Board. Both groups oversee the development of the five-year plan and its annual updates. The plan contains economic data, regional economic development goals, an explanation of economic development activities occurring in the region, and a list of identified and prioritized regionally significant projects.
Current Activities
In the current planning year, the CEDS Committee has focused on economic development programs and projects that are specific to the needs and vision of the greater Franklin County region, such as broadband access and "green" economy initiatives. In June 2009, both the CEDS Committee and the Franklin Regional Planning Board voted to approve the 2009 CEDS Annual Report (822K pdf). The Report has been submitted to the federal Economic Development Administration for their consideration. Copies of the Report will be distributed to each CEDS Region town. For more information about the CEDS Program or to request a copy of the 2009 CEDS Annual Report, please contact Jessica Atwood (jatwood@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x101).
Future Plans
The next five-year CEDS Plan will be completed in June 2010. As part of this Plan, a new 2010 CEDS Project Listing will be created. This Listing includes regionally significant economic development construction and planning projects. CEDS Region towns are encouraged to submit projects for consideration using the 2010 CEDS Project Profile Form (156K Word). More information about the CEDS Project Listing process and for assistance regarding Project Profile Form will be available on October 26th from 3 - 4:30 p.m. in the FRCOG Planning Department Conference Room.
Links
US Economic Development Administration
Page last updated on October 16, 2009 .