Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
One of the more critical initiatives funded under the One Coast, One Future program involves preparation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS). To that end, a diverse group of chief elected officials, chamber of commerce executives, and economic development and planning staff from the various municipalities formed the CEDS committee. The first step was the hiring of Connecticut Economic Resource Center, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, to conduct an in-depth baseline analysis and describe the linkages between the region's communities.

The study concluded that, overall, the region's economic health and quality of life are excellent, with superior educational and healthcare services prevalent throughout. Infrastructure, including utilities and transportation, are highly integrated; that there exists a shared workforce, an overlapping of retail and housing markets, and many recreational opportunities for the residents of the region.

All of these factors point to interdependence among the communities and to the region quite literally having "one coast and one future." Although no formal political or governmental structure ties the communities together, there are important linkages that make cooperation between the communities highly desirable and in many cases a necessity. Leveraging these linkages provides an opportunity to improve the quality of life for area residents and businesses.

The CERC report will be used as the basis for the next step: beginning work on the development of a regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy during 2007.

To read the Executive Summary or the entire report developed by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, please click on the following link:

 

For more information contact:
The Bridgeport Regional Business Council
203-335-3800
www.brbc.org