The greatest responsibility for Region III-A, as an Economic Development Administration designated economic development district serving portions of Northeast Indiana, is to maintain the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the five county region. Developing and maintaining the CEDS is an ongoing activity involving input from local elected officials, business and labor leaders, state and federal legislators, education and other segments of the community.
Funding for this ongoing planning initiative is derived from local government, EDA and the Indiana Rural Development Council (IRDC). In addition to analysis of demographic and economic indicators, this activity establishes and maintains an inventory of priorities within the region, both capital and non-capital economic development projects. Local officials, EDA, Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA), Indiana Economic Development Corproation (IEDC), Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and others may then use this inventory in an effort to focus limited resources towards projects of highest priority.
Region III-A further supports local and state economic development efforts by insuring assistance is readily available to access the myriad of economic development programs. Accessing local and state economic development tools efficiently and effectively is critical to insuring continued economic growth. Among the tools Region III-A may provide assistance with are: Tax Abatement, Tax Increment Finance (TIF), Industrial Development Grant Fund (IDGF), Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF), EDA Public Works, EDA Technical Assistance. Region III-A is also a referral agency for numerous economic development partners, including: Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center; Northeast Indiana Community Development Corporation; Northeast Indiana Workforce Board; Northeast Indiana Innovation Center; and Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.
And finally, of growing importance Region III-A are those economic development initiatives best implemented on a regional level. The organization is determined to be a positive, pro-active partner in creating and sustaining a prosperous and responsive regional economy in Northeast Indiana.