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Economic Development Strategic Planning

Create a clear, shared roadmap for economic growth.

When your economic development plan no longer reflects current conditions, decision-making becomes reactive. You may be facing an economic shift, an outdated strategy, or competing priorities across stakeholder groups.

Strategic planning is most effective when it leads to clear choices. Our work is designed to help leaders align around priorities, make informed tradeoffs, and move from discussion to implementation.

By the end of the process, you have an actionable strategic plan that defines priorities, assigns responsibility, identifies funding opportunities, and lays out how progress will be measured over the next five to ten years.

give yourself a leg up

100% of our Rural Zone applicants received their designations after conducting a strategic priorities assessment with CEDR.

Core Service Components

Comprehensive and Regional Strategic Plans

Full-scale economic development plans for cities, counties, or multi-jurisdictional regions. These plans give leaders a shared framework for long-term decision-making and investment.

Commercial Node and Corridor Analysis

Targeted analysis of specific geographic areas to determine the most appropriate mix of retail, residential, and industrial development. This service supports site readiness and reinvestment decisions. These analyses give leaders a shared framework for long-term decision-making and investment.

Strategic Priorities Assessments

A focused planning effort designed to help communities clarify near-term priorities and position themselves for funding or designation opportunities. This approach is especially useful when timelines or funding requirements demand precision.

The CEDR Difference

Strategic planning can feel overwhelming when time and capacity are limited. Our process is designed to be focused, collaborative, and realistic: helping communities make progress without unnecessary complexity.

1. Asset and Stakeholder Discovery

We begin by listening. Through interviews and focus groups, we work with you to understand local assets, challenges, and perspectives. This step helps clarify what matters most to your community and why.

2. Economic, Community, and Demographic Analysis

Our team analyzes labor markets, housing needs, demographic trends, and industry clusters. This data provides a factual foundation that grounds planning decisions in current conditions and future realities.

3. Strategy Synthesis and Collaboration

We facilitate interactive working sessions with community stakeholders to define a shared vision, refine goals, and prioritize initiatives. Strategies are evaluated based on feasibility, impact, and local capacity.

4. Strategic Roadmap and Implementation Plan

The final deliverable is a comprehensive strategic plan supported by a detailed implementation playbook. This roadmap outlines responsibilities, timelines, funding sources, and performance measures to guide action.