Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Southwest Michigan

The document below is a draft of the 2009 Comprehensive Economic Devleopment Strategy (CEDS) for Southwest Michigan, which was available for public review through mid-January 2010. If you are still interested in submitting comments for the 2010 update, please email luthere@swmpc.org or send written correspondence to the address listed further down the page. An updated document incorporating public input will be available on this page in mid-February, 2010. 

Download the full 2009-2012 CEDS draft:

• Draft - Full Document

As the Economic Development District (EDD) for southwest Michigan, the SWMPC prepares a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) every three years as a means to move toward a cohesive regional economic development strategy. This 2009 iteration will:

• Guide the SWMPC's economic-development-related organizational initiatives through 2012;
• Serve as a resource for local governments and organizations within the SWMPC's boundaries;
• Help the EDA in working with the SWMPC staff, local governments, and regional organizations in prioritizing projects and initiatives that contribute to a cohesive regional approach to economic development.

Please send any questions or comments in written form to:

Elizabeth Luther, Associate Planner

Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

185 E. Main Street, Suite 701

Benton Harbor, MI 49022

email: luthere@swmpc.org

fax: 269.925.0288

phone: 269.925.1137 ex. 13 

Call for Public Review Press Release (12.19)

Herald-Palladium Notice (12.26)

Courier-Leader Notice (01.11, must be a Premium Member to view)

The EDA approved the last full iteration of the CEDS in 2003. In subsequent years, the SWMPC staff and a select committee prepared annual updates. These annual updates document changes in the region related to economic development, and track the SWMPC's performance toward facilitating the achievment of regional economic development goals. They also present and evaluate new projects, and provide a status report on current and past projects.

Links to the most recent annual reports are below. The SWMPC will publish an annual report of the 2009 CEDS at the end of 2010.

2008 Annual Report

2007 Annual Report

2006 Annual Report 

2005 Annual Report

2004 Annual Report