2027 - 2031 CEDS Update Information

Help Shape the Future of Our Region’s Economy!

The Lake Champlain–Lake George Regional Planning Board is updating the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. This five-year strategy helps guide economic development priorities, identify regional challenges and opportunities, and support future investment across Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington Counties.

The CEDS is an important regional planning document that helps communities, businesses, organizations, and local governments work together toward a stronger, more resilient regional economy.

Take the CEDS Survey

We are currently seeking public input through the regional CEDS survey. The survey is an opportunity to share your perspective on the region’s greatest strengths, challenges, needs, and opportunities for economic growth over the next five years.‍

Take the survey here!

What is the CEDS?

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, is a five-year regional strategy that helps guide economic development priorities, investments, and decision-making.

The CEDS provides a snapshot of current economic conditions, identifies regional strengths and challenges, and outlines goals and strategies to support long-term economic growth and resilience.

For the Lake Champlain–Lake George region, the CEDS helps communities, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments across Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington Counties work together toward shared priorities. It also helps position the region for state and federal funding opportunities, including programs administered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The CEDS helps guide decisions related to:

• Business growth and retention
• Workforce development
• Housing and infrastructure
• Tourism and recreation
• Main Street and downtown revitalization
• Community resilience
• Regional collaboration

The CEDS is made up of four parts:

Summary Background
Describes where the region is now, highlights existing conditions, and summarizes recent economic development efforts.

SWOT Analysis
Identifies the region’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to better understand the factors shaping its economic outlook.

Action Plan
Establishes the regional vision, goals, strategies, and priority actions needed to support economic growth and resilience.

Evaluation Framework
Outlines how progress will be measured and how the region can track implementation over time.

The plan also supports regional eligibility for federal economic development funding programs through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Why This Update Matters

Our region continues to face both opportunities and challenges, including workforce shortages, housing constraints, infrastructure needs, changing tourism patterns, and evolving business conditions. The CEDS update provides an opportunity to better understand these issues and develop strategies that reflect local and regional needs.

• Revisit shared economic development goals
• Identify current and emerging needs
• Highlight local and regional assets
• Strengthen partnerships across sectors
• Develop strategies that reflect community priorities
• Position the region for future funding and investment

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Project Timeline

The CEDS update will take place over the course of 2026 and will include multiple opportunities for public and stakeholder input.

• Spring–Summer 2026
  
  • Public outreach, committee meetings, survey distribution, and stakeholder engagement.
• Summer–Fall 2026
  
  • Review of regional economic data, identification of priorities, and development of draft goals and strategies.
• Fall–Winter 2026
  
  • Draft CEDS review, public feedback, and final plan development.
• Winter 2026
  
  • Final CEDS adoption and submission for EDA approval.

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