January 27, 2021 — Denise Bulat, Executive Director, reported the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is fully updated every five years, with the last one completed in 2016. The 2021 CEDS will be a full update.

The Bi-State Regional Commission helps to create an overarching plan that is consistent with the broad goals of the five-county Bi-State Region. The CEDS goals are purposely broad so that the CEDS does not usurp the goals of member governments and various economic development partners throughout the Bi-State Region. Many of the goals have remained the same over the years.  With this CEDS Update goals related to pandemic recovery and diversity, equity and inclusion added.  Strategies are more specific than goals, measurable and realistic considering what can be accomplished over the five-year period of the CEDS by partners in the Bi-State Region.

The demographic and goals section of the plan are currently being drafted.