The Bi-State Region is made up of Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island Counties in Illinois and Muscatine and Scott Counties in Iowa. The cornerstone of Bi-State's economic development planning assistance is the CEDS. The CEDS is fully updated every five years, with the last one completed in 2016. Progress reports are done during interim years. Through the CEDS planning process, communities across the Bi-State Region help to create an overarching plan that is consistent with the broad goals of the five-county Bi-State Region. The CEDS goals are purposely broad so that the CEDS does not usurp the goals of our member governments' own economic development strategies and those of the various economic development partners throughout the Bi-State Region. In addition, more general goals enable Bi-State to demonstrate CEDS concurrence for our members' projects and those of the economic development partners when they seek funding. The CEDS process is required for the region to receive investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). EDA funding has been vital to the region's economy over the years investing in industrial sites, commercial sites, rail facilities and revolving loan funds. Your input will assist in the development of the 2021 full update of the CEDS. The most recent CEDS documents are available at the following links:
2021 Proposed CEDS Goals:
Attract, retain, and expand businesses within the Bi-State Region.
Promote the redevelopment of blighted, underused, vacant and/or environmentally-challenged sites with high market potential and/or positive community impacts.
Continue to improve the quality of life in the Bi-State Region through projects that support recreation, culture, arts, and entertainment, support the tourism industry and the Bi-State Region's Visitor and Tourism Bureaus, which promotes the attraction and retention of a talented and diverse workforce.
Make the Bi-State Region more economically-resilient to both natural disasters and economic downturns.
Invest in infrastructure improvements, such as roads, bridges, sewers, water facilities, and broadband, multi-modal transportation systems, and energy utilities that will strengthen the Bi-State Regional economy.
Leverage the resources available for workforce development and training through the university/community college systems, Iowa Works/American Job Center, and other partners to address the growing skill needs of businesses and industries in the Bi-State Region.
Foster public-private and intergovernmental partnerships to address economic development needs in the Bi-State Region while emphasizing cooperation over competition.
Support mentoring, workforce development, business assistance and other programs offered by schools, university/community college systems, chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for all marginalized populations.
Assist with economic recovery during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, and use the experience to make the Bi-State Region more economically resilient to future public health emergencies.