Economic Development
Overview
Economic development can be defined in many ways, but the end goal is the overall advancement or improvement of the quality of life in a community or region. Economic development expands the capacity of a community to create jobs, retain and attract a talented workforce, recruit an array of businesses while supporting current ones, and establish the sustainability of economic well-being for the area.
RPCGB assists its member governments with a variety of projects that prioritize economic development. The Economic Development Department staff works alongside mayors, commissioners, economic development personnel, and other city or county leaders to ensure they have access to the necessary information they need to develop projects to expand economic potential and enhance the quality of life for their residents.
services
For decades, RPCGB has served the region as both the Local Development District (LDD), designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Economic Development District (EDD), designated by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). These designations are provided by federal development agencies to regional entities to ensure federal funds are used efficiently and effectively towards projects that are prioritized on a local level.
As the development district for both ARC and EDA, the Economic Development department’s main responsibility is identifying the development barriers regional communities are facing and helping local communities determine project priorities. This role is accomplished by providing our member governments with technical assistance services to plan and execute their economic development projects. In addition, staff monitors economic conditions of the region, conducts specialized studies, and coordinates programs of the EDA and ARC.
The primary services the Economic Development Department provides to our member governments are:
Providing project development assistance through project planning, grant proposal development assistance, and grant management services.
Conducting economic impact analyses through IMPLAN software
Providing economic data to local governments, business, industry and organizations
Developing the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region; This document is a guidebook for economic development strategies in the region
Conducting specialized studies or surveys, including feasibility studies and market analyses
Collaborating with local financing partners to assist small and start-up businesses with obtaining access capital and providing technical assistance to local entrepreneurs
department contact:
Allie Haynes, Economic Development Specialist
Email: ahaynes@rpcgb.org