Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
CAPCOG is designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as the Economic Development District. Working on behalf of the district, CAPCOG develops the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a five-year plan that establishes regional economic goals and objectives. The strategy provides useful regional information, guidance, and perspective from and to local economic development stakeholders on a city, county, or regional level. The planning process is inclusive of diverse representatives in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors throughout the Capital Area. The strategy intends to provide a conceptual framework for local actors to strengthen the competitiveness, economic resilience, and quality of life in the Capital Area.
2025-2030 CEDS
CAPCOG is developing the next 5-year CEDS in accordance with EDA guidelines. The CEDS will include key components such as a summary background detailing the region’s economic conditions, a SWOT analysis, a strategic direction and action plan, and an evaluation framework. Additionally, the plan will incorporate resiliency measures to ensure the region can adapt to economic challenges and opportunities. Once completed, the CEDS will be submitted to the EDA to maintain the region’s eligibility for future EDA investments.
CEDS Contact
Kaileen McHugh
- Regional Planning & Services
- Planning and Economic Development Coordinator
- 512-916-6011
- [email protected]
CAPCOG kicked off planning to draft the 2025-2030 CEDS in January 2025. The process includes in-depth data analysis and background research, along with community engagement for every county in the 10-county CAPCOG region. By involving a wide range of perspectives and local input, the goal is to create a strategy that truly reflects the region’s needs and opportunities.
Once a draft of the CEDS is complete, CAPCOG will seek further community feedback during a public comment period. After the comment period, the CEDS will be approved by the CAPCOG Economic Development Advisory Committee and its Executive Committee before being submitted to the EDA.
Project Planning Timeline
- December – February: Research & Planning
CAPCOG conducted through background research and data collection from various local, state and national sources to inform the strategy. - February – March: Community Engagement
CAPCOG will host several county workshops and conduct regional stakeholder interviews, ensuring diverse input from across the region. - April: Draft CEDS
The draft CEDS will be developed in collaboration with the CEDS Strategy Committee, using insights from community engagement, data analysis, and background research. - April – May: Public Comment Period
The public comment period for the CEDS will last 30 days, allowing community members to submit feedback. - June: Review & Adoption of CEDS
The CEDS will be reviewed by CAPCOG’s Economic Development Advisory Committee before being approved by its executive committee. The executive committee is slated see the CEDS at its June 11 meeting.
Public Comment Period
CAPCOG is taking public comments to contribute to the drafting of the 2025-2030 CEDS until May 16. Comments can be submitted by email or an online form.
Public input is vital to creating the CEDS, and CAPCOG is encouraging all to participating in commenting on the draft of the CEDS. The draft has been made available here, but regional stakeholders can get a copy of the CEDS by visiting the CAPCOG offices, 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165 in Austin.
Read the 2025-2030 CEDS draft.
Public Workshops
CAPCOG has completed public input workshops in each county to gather information for the CEDS where county residents and stakeholders are welcome to attend. CAPCOG will send direct invites to local government officials, economic and community development professionals, business leaders and other community leaders.
At each meeting, CAPCOG will present an introduction to the CEDS, discuss data about the county and region, and conduct an open forum on community needs and wants.
Workshop dates are posted on the calendar as they are scheduled. Each event will have its own registration, but it will not be required to attend. Registration will be taken and used only to promote future updates about the CEDS and to receive additional feedback before and after publication of the CEDS.
Once completed, the CEDS becomes a public document for CAPCOG communities to use to promote the economic and community development of each community and the region.
Want to keep up with the CEDS?
CAPCOG is distributing email updates about the CEDS, so regional partners can get information about upcoming workshops, CEDS drafts, the CEDS comment period details and more.
This page provides key insights into the region’s economic trends, workforce, and industry landscape. Our data comes from trusted sources, including the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By analyzing these sources, we gain a comprehensive understanding of economic conditions, helping to shape informed strategies for regional growth and resilience.
The CEDS Data is coming soon.
Previous Years
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies
Prior ceds and UPdates
CAPCOG is required by the EDA to develop a CEDS every 5 years, and provide an Update and Performance Report annually. Included below are CAPCOG’s last two CEDS and their updates.
- 2023 Update
- 2022 Update
- 2021 Update
- 2020-2025 CEDS
- 2019 Update
- 2018 Update
- 2017 Update
- 2016 Update
- 2015-2020 CEDS
2020-2025 CEDS
The strategy looked at the region’s many challenges that needed be addressed for it to remain economically competitive, despite the region have great economic success of recent years. It found that there was an over dependence on a few of the largest employment sectors, a lack of affordable housing resulting in increased commuting trips that threaten our air quality, stressed transportation infrastructure that could impact freight movement, a need for small business development in rural communities while dependable broadband is lacking, and significant disparities in educational attainment by race and ethnicity that limit the region’s ability to achieve its full economic potential.
Its last update was in 2024.
