CEDS
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
A CEDS is a plan that outlines a region's economic development needs and goals. It emerges from a continuous planning process developed with broad-based and diverse community participation that addresses the economic potential of an area. The plan identifies the region’s economic challenges and opportunities, promotes strategies to support sustainable economic development, fosters effective transportation systems, and balances resources through responsible management of growth and development.
Every five years, REDC completes a new five-year CEDS. As part of this planning process, REDC and its partners develop a regional vision and a set of goals and strategies to help guide economic development for our region. REDC most recently completed the five-year CEDS in 2025, and submitted it to the EDA on June 27, 2025. The 2025-2029 CEDS and accompanying data and reports may be found HERE (website).
During each intermediate year during the five-years CEDS cycle, REDC publishes an update which includes new demographics, data, and project updates. The most recent update to the 2025-2029 CEDS may be found by clicking the link to the right. Updated data and reports are located on the 2025-2029 CEDS landing page.
CEDS Priority Projects
Part of the annual CEDS process includes the development of a Priority Project List for the REDC region. Priority Projects are local and regional development projects, programs, and/or studies that meet one or more of the CEDS Regional Goals. Each year, REDC solicits project submissions for inclusion in the CEDS plan it submits to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).
While not all projects meet subsequent requirements for funding under EDA guidelines, the inclusion of projects on the Priority Project List for the region may have a positive effect for a project's possible funding under other grant sources, such as USDA/Rural Development, HUD, and DOL. In addition, a project MUST be on the list to be considered for certain EDA grant opportunities. EDA-funded eligible projects include any public infrastructure or construction project that will ultimately lead to the creation of new private industry jobs. While the inclusion of a project in the CEDS does not guarantee future investment, it does indicate to federal, state, and other potential funders that the project aligns with the region’s economic and community development goals.
If your community/agency would like to submit a new project for consideration or update an existing project, please fill out this form or contact Jen at Jennifer@redc.com.
To review the projects currently on the Priority Project List, please check out the 2026 List.
Past CEDS Reports
Interview Spotlights
We have included in the 2023 CEDS several interviews with key individuals who impact and are impacted by the issues that drive our region’s economy. The interviews are included as part of our multi-media campaign to share the CEDS. Parts of the interviews are included in the CEDS update, with the full text posted on our blog.
Melanie Casablanca, Owner, Bright Village Early Education
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me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Scott Maslansky, Director of Clean Energy Finance, CDFA
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me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Anne Banks, Apprenticeship NH Program Manager, Community College System of NH
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me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
John Tabor, Portsmouth City Councilor, Chairman of Portsmouth Community Power
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me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Past Project Spotlight:
Seabrook Seawall Reconstruction Project
The Town of Seabrook, NH held a site walk of the Seabrook Seawall Reconstruction project on the Hampton-Seabrook Harbor. REDC joined project engineer Curtis Chaney of Collins Engineers, Inc. as he outlined the site and project to potential contract bidders. REDC assisted the town of Seabrook with obtaining a Public Works grant from the Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce for this vital reconstruction project which will restore the pier used by the Yankee Fishermen's Cooperative and NextEra Energy. REDC also assisted the town with grant administration.
In this video, we speak with William Manzi III, Seabrook Town Manager, about this important project and REDC's role in making it happen.
REDC's History with the CEDS
A CEDS is the result of a local planning process designed to guide the economic growth of a region. REDC has been the keeper of the region's CEDS since 2000. As a result of its diligent planning, REDC achieved designation as the first Economic Development District (EDD) in Southern New Hampshire. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) bestowed the EDD designation on REDC in 2003. As part of the EDD designation, REDC is awarded funding to continue the important task of planning for our region's economic growth, to include annually updating the region's CEDS.
