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Seneca County commissioners approve Lake Erie West Region economic strategy to bolster grant eligibility
Summary
Seneca County commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 2 to approve the Lake Erie West Region 2026–2030 comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS), joining a multi-county effort intended to improve competitiveness for Economic Development Administration grants.
Seneca County commissioners voted unanimously on Dec. 2 to approve the Lake Erie West Region 2026–2030 comprehensive economic development strategy, commonly referred to as the SEDS. The resolution forwards the county's approval to the regional filing that will be submitted to the Economic Development Administration's Chicago regional office.
The county invited Bryce Riggs, a representative from the regional collaborative, to brief the board. Riggs traced the county's prior work on economic strategy (a 2011 plan prepared by WSOS) and described how consolidating local strategies into a Lake Erie West Region plan — covering Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Wood counties — strengthens applications for federal economic development grants. "The EDA wants to see communities that have done the leg work in advance," Riggs said, describing why the regional submission can gain more points in federal evaluations.
Commissioners asked whether the regional plan would prevent Seneca County from pursuing county-specific grants. Riggs said counties can still submit projects that serve a single county; the regional designation primarily changes how proposals are packaged and scored for EDA consideration. He also outlined the governance plan: a new Lake Erie West governing board will include representatives from participating counties; Riggs and other local representatives were named as part of the initial slate.
The board put the item to a vote after the presentation. A motion to approve the Lake Erie West Region SEDS was moved and seconded; a roll call recorded affirmative votes from the commissioners present, and the resolution was adopted. The county's signed approval will be transmitted with the regional application to the EDA office in Chicago for designation consideration.
Next steps noted during the meeting include finalizing the draft language with county administrative staff and confirming representation for Seneca County on the new governing board. The commissioners and the collaborative said they would keep county staff updated on any follow-up documents and the regional approval timeline.
