ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (EDD)

On May 5, 1993, the CAAG Regional Council unanimously voted to pursue the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Economic Development District designation.  On July 29, 1993, CAAG officially submitted resolutions from each of the District's member entities to the Governor requesting authorization to proceed with the formation of an Economic Development District (EDD).  Governor Symington contacted EDA with CAAG's formal request, and authorization to proceed toward designation as an Economic Development District was granted by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce.  Funding provided by the member entities was utilized to hire an economic development staff member, and to compensate for necessary administrative expenses that are generally associated with the initial formulation of a regional Economic Development District during the first year.  

Between September of 1993 and March of 1994, a District-wide Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP now CEDS) Steering Committee was formed to assist in the facilitation of the regional economic development process.  In addition to the CEDS Steering Committee, CAAG Staff and CEDS representatives have established broad-based networks with other professionals throughout the District, in an effort to obtain additional input into the planning process.
CAAG has since received EDA Planning Grants on an annual basis to help cover the costs associated with the annual updates of the CEDS document as well as technical assistance requests, and overall economic planning activities.  Three of the District’s member entities (Casa Grande, Coolidge, & Superior) have been the recipients of EDA Public Works Grants.  CAAG has also received four Technical Assistance Grants: one to produce an economic adjustment strategy for the unincorporated community of San Manuel when that community’s major employer ceased operations; a second grant funded the development of this District’s Regional Tourism Marketing Strategy; a third TA Grant provided funding to help produce a publication marketing the Region as a specific tourist destination (a first-of-its-kind marketing piece for Gila & Pinal Counties); and the fourth grant was used to produce a companion piece to the tourist publication promoting the Region’s military history-related sites. 

CAAG Staff was recently informed that the agency has been awarded an EDA Performance Award for the work that was done on the military history publication as well as web site improvements relating to tourism within the Region.  This award is given at the discretion of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

CAAG has also recently received an Economic Adjustment Grant from EDA to study employment centers (existing & future) throughout Gila & Pinal Counties.  This project will look at current and future infrastructure needs, compile an asset inventory, and determine “target industries” for specific sub-regions within CAAG.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD