Economic Development District (CEDS & EDA)

In 2003, TBRPC was designated by the US Economic Development Administration as the Economic Development District (EDD) for the Tampa Bay region, now including Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. As the Economic Development District for this region, TBRPC provides a conduit for accessing matching federal economic development funds for job-creating projects.

By acting on behalf of the region’s six counties, TBRPC reduces the administrative costs of regional grant applications and conducts the following primary activities:

1. Prepares and maintains the Tampa Bay Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and assists with its implementation. EDDs are required to fully update the CEDS every five years and TBRPC updates the CEDS on an annual basis.
2. Provides technical assistance to local governments and economic development organizations on their economic development activities, programs, and grant applications.
3. Provides letters of support for projects submitted to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for funding. The EDD is a gateway for a number of federal grant opportunities for local jurisdictions, provided that the projects that are proposed are consistent with the CEDS. Project proponents must have a support letter attesting to the proposed project’s consistency with the CEDS from the District to submit applications for assistance from EDA on investment projects as well as grants supporting economic recovery that are offered by other agencies.