(Spokane, Wash) Greater Spokane Incorporated will be convening community and business leaders and stakeholders to update the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for 2009/2010.   The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), designated Greater Spokane Incorporated as the regional entity for development of the annual Spokane County CEDS document in 2001.

A prerequisite for consideration of EDA competitive funding is the completion of a regional CEDS document.  The CEDS provides a regional template for future economic development, and describes the economic challenges and potential of Spokane County.  A significant responsibility of the CEDS team members is to prioritize regional economic development projects.  Regional projects funded through this process include the University District Strategic Master Plan, the Sirti Technology Center and the Sirti Technology Growth Fund, in addition to the announcement in 2007 that the City of Cheney had received funding in excess of $1.4 million for infrastructure at the Cheney Research and Industrial Park.  Over $15,000,000 in projects in the Spokane Region have been funded by the EDA to date. 

Greater Spokane Incorporated is issuing a Request for Proposal for funding proposals.  The EDA favors funding proposals that are market-driven, target business clusters and are regional in scope

The more permanent jobs your project brings to Spokane County, the better.   Eligible applicants for EDA programs include units of State and local government, Indian tribes, Economic Development Districts, public and private non-profits, universities, and other institutions of higher education.  Non-profit organizations are required to act in cooperation with officials of local government with jurisdiction over the project area. 

And while EDA favors construction-type projects, any project is eligible to be included in the CEDS document.   Inclusion in the CEDS document highlights the importance of projects to the region and may enable them to be considered for other types of funding.

Click here for the RFP and Project Proposal Form

For information on eligibility for EDA funding, please contact Robin Toth of Greater Spokane Incorporated at 509.742.9388, or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

About Greater Spokane Incorporated

Greater Spokane Incorporated is committed to accelerating regional economic prosperity throughout the Spokane region.  Greater Spokane Incorporated is funded by more than 1500 private-sector member investors; Spokane County; and the cities of Spokane; Spokane Valley; Liberty Lake; Cheney; Airway Heights; Newport, Millwood and Medical Lake.  For more information, visit www.greaterspokaneincorporated.org or contact us at 509-624-1393 or 1-800-SPOKANE.

The Spokane EDC and Chamber - Integrated to Accelerate Regional Economic Prosperity