Hampton Roads Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Hampton Roads Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Project Support


The Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP), a public private organization comprised of the chief elected officials of seventeen local governments, business leaders, college and university presidents, and military commands, seeks a highly qualified contractor to provide support for development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Hampton Roads region.

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), as defined by the U. S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic roadmap to diversify and strengthen regional economies. The CEDS analyzes the regional economy and serves as a guide for establishing regional goals and objectives, developing and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources.

A CEDS integrates a region’s human and physical capital planning in the service of economic development. Integrated economic development planning provides the flexibility to adapt to global economic conditions and fully utilize the region’s unique advantages to maximize economic opportunity for its residents by attracting the private investment that creates jobs for the region’s residents.

A CEDS is the result of a continuing economic development planning process developed with broad-based and diverse public and private sector participation and must set forth the goals and objectives necessary to solve the economic development problems of the region and clearly define the metrics of success.

Finally, a CEDS provides a useful benchmark by which a regional economy can evaluate opportunities with other regions in the national economy.

For more information on CEDS: http://www.eda.gov/PDF/CEDSFlyer081706.pdf

The CEDS Support Contractor:

1. Works directly for the Project Manager to oversee and facilitate the CEDS process and to integrate and prioritize Sub-Committee results.
2. Provides support to Strategy Committee and Sub-Committee Leaders.
3. Facilitates public outreach working with appropriate regional entities.
4. Supports the preparation of the final report.

Qualifications:

1. Has detailed and current knowledge of Hampton Roads including its opportunities and issues.
2. Has been involved with the preparation of successful CEDS planning efforts.

Proposals should include how the contractor will support the project, information on key personnel involved, relevant accomplishments, and a budget to include travel, meeting support, and personnel costs. Proposals should be limited to no more than 4 pages, including budget.

Proposals should be sent by Monday, June 7, 2009 to:
E. Dana Dickens, III
President and CEO
Hampton Roads Partnership
430 World Trade Center
Norfolk, VA 23510
ddickens@hrp.org