Downtown Apex, NC.
Local economic development decisions may happen town by town or county by county, but many of the forces shaping those decisions cross jurisdictional lines. Workforce, infrastructure, housing, business investment and economic resilience all benefit from a regional view.
Central Pines serves as the region’s designated Economic Development District, or EDD. In that role, we help local governments build economic-development capacity, coordinate regional priorities and connect locally driven projects with resources available through the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Central Pines Regional Council
How Communities Can Use the Economic Development District
Access federal economic-development resources
Central Pines helps local applicants understand EDA opportunities and connect project ideas with appropriate funding programs.
Use regional data and research
Economic conditions look different from one community to another. Central Pines provides research and analysis that help local leaders better understand those differences and make evidence-based decisions.
Build local planning capacity
Our staff provides technical assistance across economic-development needs, including community planning, downtown development, workforce issues and project development.
Learn about Our Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Learn about Our Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
A shared strategy for regional prosperity
Every federally recognized Economic Development District maintains a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS. The CEDS creates a common framework for understanding regional conditions, setting priorities and coordinating investment.
Central Pines’ Strength in Numbers strategy was built around three broad objectives: building regional capacity, guiding economic prosperity and resilience, and encouraging collaboration through partnerships and investment. Its five goal areas addressed business retention and innovation, infrastructure, workforce development, connected and vibrant places, and economic resiliency. Central Pines Regional Council
Useful resources
Turn Strategy into a Local Project
A regional strategy is most useful when it helps communities take action. If your community is developing an economic-development project, evaluating an investment need or looking for research and technical assistance, Central Pines can help identify a path forward.
