Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Economic Development Districts

Economic Development Districts (EDDs) are multi-jurisdictional entities, commonly composed of multiple counties. They help lead the locally-based, regionally driven economic development planning process that brings together the public, private, and non-profit sectors to establish a strategic blueprint (i.e., an economic development roadmap) for regional collaboration. The EDD is funded by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.


The strategic blueprint, known as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. A CEDS is the result of a “regionally-owned” planning process designed to guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. It provides a coordinating mechanism for individuals, organizations, local governments, Tribes, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation and debate about the economic direction of their region.


NODC is the Economic Development District of Jefferson and Clallam Counties on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, and produces the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy report for the region.


What is a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)?

  • The CEDS helps to build on the strengths of [our] region, as well as identify gaps in resources or expertise that need to be addressed
  • The CEDS planning process can facilitate regional collaboration, expand supply chains, and grow and support new industry clusters
  • With a CEDS in place, regions are more likely to attract federal funds and technical assistance by demonstrating resources are used efficiently and effectively
  • The CEDS process can make [our] region more resilient and better positioned to plan for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and economic shocks
  • The CEDS can be much more than just a static document, but rather an engaging platform that generates region-wide discussions and serves as a call to action for economic development


Learn more about the process of creating a CEDS here.


Current and previous CEDS reports for the North Olympic Peninsula can be found here.


Other Articles:

Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network

By Amy Nash • May 5, 2025
Strait ERN is a collaborative network working toward a healthy and resilient ecosystem that sustains all life and human wellbeing on the North Olympic Peninsula and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Energy and Environmental Resilience Conferences

By Amy Nash • May 17, 2023
NODC partners with regional stakeholders on an annual conference that addresses the energy and environmental resilience concerns of the North Olympic Peninsula.

Marine Renewable Energy

By Amy Nash • May 17, 2023
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will explore the feasibility of Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) to increase grid resilience on the North Olympic Peninsula. As a partner on the project, NODC will build on previous regional planning processes for climate change adaptation, natural disaster resilience and energy to develop and lead a multi-criteria decision-making approach to engage communities and Tribes across the Peninsula in the project to identify needs and define important project metrics.
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