The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a regional roadmap for the economy. It focuses on regional projects which will bring economic benefit to multiple places, but also includes local project lists to expand funding options from federal and state governments.

The Roanoke Valley – Alleghany Regional Commission’s CEDS includes the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke, the cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem, and the Towns of Buchanan, Clifton Forge, Fincastle, Iron Gate, Troutville, New Castle, and Vinton.

Public input on this effort will occur in two phases. A public survey will be open from February 16th to April 1st. An open public comment period on the final plan will occur from May 15th to June 15th.

You can provide input through the public input survey from February 16th to April 1st, or through the open public comment period at the end of the planning process.

The Steering Committee for the CEDS is a standing committee of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (CEDS Committee) which meets a minimum of four times a year to discuss regional economic development initiatives. These meetings are open to the public and are posted on the RVARC website.

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a regional planning document which provides a roadmap for economic development over the next five years. Numbers and projects in the document are updated annually. The committee tasked with guiding document development and implementation is called the CEDS Committee.

The federal Economic Development Administration provides funding to help improve economic planning and project development to local and regional governments.

Local governments include cities, towns, and counties, and are collectively referred to as "localities" or "jurisdictions".

The Wealth Creation model is a model promoted by NADO to look at eight important parts of a community that play a key role in promoting economic development.

NADO is an association which supports economic development districts like RVARC through information sharing, education, and advocacy, among other things. Find out more at NADO.org.

A regional entity recognized by the federal EDA. RVARC is the EDD for the region.