Northwest Alabama Comprehensive Development Strategy, 2007-2008

View the 2007-2008 CEDS

Table of Contents

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is the result of a regional economic planning process that brings together private and public interests for the purpose of creating a guide to economic development for the five-county region of Northwest Alabama.  As its name implies, the CEDS is designed to be a regional comprehensive plan and, as such, it involves a variety of actors, agencies and initiatives in an attempt to encompass and define the range of economic development activities that are undertaken in Northwest Alabama.  Through analysis of the region’s unique characteristics, the preparation of a CEDS provides an opportunity to analyze the human and physical capital of the region and establish priorities for investment and funding leading to job creation and retention.  The CEDS results from an on-going, diverse and inclusive planning process involving both private and public partners and an active public involvement component.  This process allows the formation of policies representing the widest possible constituency and presenting the viewpoints of laypeople and professionals as to the direction and character of economic growth in the region.  This understanding of broader economic priorities allows for targeted investment into economic activities and generators with the broadest support and greatest likelihood of success. 

In addition to the broad-based planning components of the CEDS, the document is required to qualify for federal investments under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. EDA investments are intended to promote and complement additional investments from private sources in areas suffering from economic dislocation due to changes in global competitiveness, acute historic economic hardship, or sudden and severe job loss.  The document is prepared by a Planning Organization, which is responsible for appointing a strategy committee (in Northwest Alabama, the CEDS committee), submitting a compliant CEDS document (see 13 CFR 303.7), updating or revising the CEDS, and reporting the CEDS to other entities. The Planning Organization charged with managing the CEDS process for Region I in Alabama is the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments. 

The Planning Organization, CEDS Committee, and CEDS Content

The Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG) represents the five counties and 32 municipalities of northwest Alabama.  Founded in 1964, NACOLG houses numerous planning and governmental service functions, including Aging Services, Transit, Metropolitan and Rural Transportation Planning, and a full staff of grant-writers and community planners.   Since 2002, the five-county NACOLG region has been an Economic Development District, the regional designation used by the Economic Development Administration to administer public works assistance, economic adjustment planning aid, and technical assistance.  The NACOLG Board of Directors has also served as the Economic Development District Board. 

Federal regulations require that the Board name a Strategy Committee (CEDS Committee) to oversee the development and review of the CEDS.  This committee is composed of representatives of public and private organizations including major regional employers, governments, workforce development representatives, labor groups and minority groups.  The broadly representative body must be constituted by a majority of private sector representatives chosen from the executive and managerial level employees of for-profit enterprises.  Remaining members represent non-profit sectors, governments, and higher education. 

Regulations also mandate a portion of the content of the CEDS.  An acceptable document must include an overview of the economic geography and economic conditions of the region, to include: economy, population, geography, workforce development and use, transportation access, resources, environment and other pertinent data.  The document provides an in-depth analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the economic development of the region and identifies the topmost regional priorities for implementation. 

NACOLG has invested additional commitment to the CEDS, embracing the document as a vital economic development and planning opportunity.  As a Planning Organization with a number of additional functions, NACOLG encourages CEDS participation on the part of the public, private interests and individuals as a means of targeting project priorities for investment.  Although inclusion in the CEDS is a requirement for certain federal funding opportunities with EDA, NACOLG strongly promotes the CEDS plan and planning process as an opportunity for coordinating additional efforts, such as MPO, RPO and other implementation opportunities.  The incorporation of wide regional projects (both short and long term) into one document and into a process of continuous review maintains awareness and increases leverage and opportunity for implementing these projects.  The multi-jurisdictional nature of the CEDS includes in its planning process opportunities for implementation from a comprehensive variety of sources, including local, state and federal agencies and actors and representing private and public sources of investment and implementation resources.