CRC Receives EDA Economic Development District (EDD) Designation

The Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) recently received notification from the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) that the CRC region has received designation as an Economic Development District (EDD). The Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) is one of 21 Planning Districts in the state of Virginia.  The CRC region encompasses Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties.  The CRC assists its member localities with economic and community development, transportation planning, watershed implementation planning, emergency planning, grant writing, grant administration, GIS as well other planning activities and programs. Economic Development Districts (EDDs) are multi-jurisdictional entities, commonly composed of multiple counties and in certain cases even cross-state borders. In order to request and receive designation as an EDD a region must first develop and receive approval of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  The strategic blueprint, known as a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. A CEDS is the result of a “regionally-owned” planning process designed to guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. It provides a coordinating mechanism for individuals, organizations, local governments, and private industries to engage in a meaningful conversation and debate about the economic direction of their region.  The CRC CEDS was approved by EDA in 2020 and will serve as a guide for the recently established Economic Development District. CRC Executive Director, Melody Foster, stated “the Commonwealth Regional Council is happy to finally have received this designation and looks forward to providing economic development assistance to the region in the future.” “Economic Development Districts (EDDs) promote collaboration among the public, private and non-profit sectors for regional economic development,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Through this designation, the Commonwealth Regional Council will establish a roadmap for economic resilience, which will support business growth and job creation in southern Virginia.”