Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

We Are Updating Our CEDS!

We are excited to announce that we are currently in the process of updating our CEDS.

This update reflects our commitment to ensuring our region’s economic development plan remains relevant, responsive, and forward-looking for all residents, businesses, and communities we serve with improving our region’s economic mobility.

Timeline: June 2026-November 2027.

Learn about the process, have access to upcoming meetings, engagement activities, surveys, and other opportunities to participate as well as review documents and other resources.

Pathways to Opportunity: CEDS Update

The CEDS is updated every five-years, as required by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). ARC is the designated Economic Development District (EDD) for the 11-county Metro Region including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale.

The current CEDS (Adopted in 2022 and covering 2023-2027) was the Region’s opportunity to adapt to changing global, national, and local economic conditions and resident needs. It is an action plan to reset the economy. The CEDS focuses on economic opportunities for communities and families which will help alleviate poverty, enhance safety, improve quality of life, raise the overall standard of living, and enable them to fully participate more fully in the economy. This CEDS acknowledges the successes of past economic achievements and focuses on practical solutions and optional experimental strategies from business leaders, universities, educational entities, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and economic development professionals with an expanded base of nontraditional stakeholders (non-profits, faith-based organizations, etc.). Over the next five years ARC and our partners will work together to implement this action-oriented plan.

The CEDS allows communities and organizations to receive grants and assistance from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for projects and technical assistance.