Northeast Indiana Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2009

The 2009 CEDS Update for Northeast Indiana prepared by Region III-A Development and Regional Planning Commission (Region III-A), in cooperation with Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC), is supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).

A recent agreement between Region III-A and NIRCC has paved the way towards establishment of the Northeast Indiana Economic Development District, as designated by EDA. The five counties that have voluntarily come together to create and sustain Region III-A include Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and Whitley. The four counties that have voluntarily come together to create and sustain NIRCC include Adams, Allen, DeKalb and Wells. Collectively these counties represent Indiana Region 3, as established in 1974.

Agreement by the Board of Directors of these two regional units of government working in Northeast Indiana to establish a common economic development district, to be designated and identified by the United States government represents significant advancement for regional planning. The comprehensive economic development model, as described by EDA, is not a document so much as a process. That “process”of bringing the counties of Northeast Indiana together to identify issues and capital projects of significance to the regional economy, and more importantly, work cooperatively to address those issues and implement those projects simply cannot be overstated.