For more information contact: Laura Sibilia, Director of Economic Development BDCC, 257-7731 ext 217 or at lsibilia@brattleborodevelopment.com

For Immediate Release:

Windham Region CEDS Project and Review Schedule

Southeastern Vermont Economic Development Strategies (SeVEDS) Windham Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) Committee have released an annual schedule for existing and new projects that wish to be ranked according to the SeVEDS goals and included in the Windham Regions 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS.

A CEDS is a federally recognized regional plan designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.  A CEDS must be the result of an ongoing economic development planning process, developed with broad-based and diverse public and private sector participation, and must include a section listing all suggested projects.  A CEDS also contains a section identifying and prioritizing vital projects, programs and activities that address the region’s greatest needs or that will best enhance the region’s competitiveness.  Progress on the goals and projects will be updated annually.

The Windham Region 2014 S.M.A.R.T CEDS was completed on December 6th and finalized for submission to EDA in March 2014.  The CEDS metrics and projects will be updated annually, and the entire process will be repeated every 5 years.

The following is the annual schedule for updating 2014 CEDS projects, as well as for new project submissions for the 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS.  All projects included in the 2014 S.M.A.R.T CEDS must provide an update to be included in the 2015 S.M.A.R.T CEDS

1^st Quarter January-March

1. Conduct an After Action Review with CEDS Project Committee
2. Confirm Project Committee
3. Publicize New Projects and Updates

2^nd Quarter April – June

1. Announce new projects schedule

3^rd Quarter July – Sept

1. Open for new project submissions July 1
2. Last day for existing project updates or new project submissions September 30

4^th Quarter Oct – Dec

1. Project Committee meets to review and rank updated and new project submissions
2. SeVEDS CEDS Committee adopts Project Committee recommendations by December 31

About SeVEDS – SeVEDS is a grassroots organization that formed in 2008 and exists to reverse the economic decline of the Windham Region.  SeVEDS is affiliated with the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation.  SeVEDS is a regional organization that has partnered with the 27 town Windham Region’s private sector, non-profits and public sector to complete the first ever S.M.A.R.T. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southeastern Vermont in December of 2013.  For more information on SeVEDS, visit www.seveds.com.

S.M.A.R.T. CEDS Copyright © 2014 ViTAL Economy, Inc.  All Rights Reserved