CEDS
Comprehensive Economic Development StrategyÂ
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A CEDS is a plan that outlines a region's economic development needs and goals. It emerges from a continuous planning process developed with a broad based and diverse community participation that addresses the economic potential of an area.
The strategy should promote sustainable economic development and opportunity, foster effective transportation systems, enhance and protect the environment and balance resources through sound management of development.
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The 2025-2029 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy has been finalized as of June 27, 2025. Thank you to all who contributed to this year's CEDS!
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Additional resources either referenced in the 2025 CEDS or information we believe is useful to provide is available on our CEDS 2025 web page.
Past CEDS Reports
2019 CEDS UPDATE
2018 CEDS UPDATE
2017 CEDS UPDATE
2016 CEDS UPDATE
2015 5-YEAR CEDS REPORT
2014 CEDS UPDATE
2013 CEDS UPDATE
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
I’m a paragraph. Double click
me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Scott Maslansky, Director of Clean Energy Finance, CDFA
I’m a paragraph. Double click
me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
Anne Banks, Apprenticeship NH Program Manager, Community College System of NH
I’m a paragraph. Double click
me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
John Tabor, Portsmouth City Councilor, Chairman of Portsmouth Community Power
I’m a paragraph. Double click
me or click Edit Text. It's easy to make it your own.
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 continues to assist the town with grant administration.
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In this video we had the opportunity to speak with William Manzi III, Seabrook Town Manager, about this important project and REDC's role in making it happen.
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 or regional development projects and/or studies that meet one or more of the CEDS Regional Goals. Priority Projects must meet one or more of the CEDS Regional Goals. Submitting a project for inclusion on the CEDS Priority Project List is the first step in identifying potential funding opportunities under 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 federally funded 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.
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To review the projects currently on the Priority Project List, please check out the 2025 CEDS publication.
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.
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