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Council reviews draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy tied to EDA planning grant
Summary
City staff presented a draft economic development strategy funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration planning grant; staff said adopting the strategy to federal criteria would make local projects eligible for certain EDA public works grants for about six years.
City staff presented a draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to the College Place City Council on June 10, 2025, explaining the plan is largely funded by a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) planning grant and is intended to align the city’s economic goals and capital projects with EDA eligibility criteria.
The draft includes foundational goals, action steps and visual materials prepared by the consultant Economic Growth Strategies; staff asked council members to review the language and project listings before the next meeting when the plan may be brought forward for adoption.
Why it matters: staff said adopting the economic development element to EDA standards would make College Place projects eligible for the EDA public works grant program—potentially opening a six-year window for funding that otherwise would require separate planning work. The presenter noted other local agencies (for example the port) did not prepare plans to this federal criterion, which is why the city pursued the EDA planning grant.
Staff described the process and next steps: staff will compile capital projects from the city’s Capital Facilities Plan, the Transportation Improvement Plan, recent studies (including the Martin Ayrfield planning study) and the upcoming Safe Streets for All plan, then return with a consolidated project list for council consideration. The presenter said the draft had received an advisory vote from the Economic Development, Tourism and Events Commission with business owners.
“Once this is adopted, key thing of importance is that, the comprehensive plan economic development section, most jurisdictions don't do it according to federal economic and, development administration principles. If you do it according to the SUDs concept, then it opens up all the economic development administration, public works program, grants, for about a 6 year period,” the presenter said.
No formal council action occurred at the June 10 meeting; staff said they hope to return with a consolidated project list and a proposed adoption at a future council meeting.
