Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

SAP&DC is an Economic Development District (EDD), as designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. As an EDD, SAP&DC is required to maintain an updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) document and an active CEDS Committee behind it. An approved CEDS is a requirement for EDA funding of economic development projects.

The CEDS is a strategy-driven regional planning effort that promotes and coordinates economic development. It involves detailed socioeconomic background studies and the drafting of prioritized strategies, goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes for regional economic development, resiliency, and equity. It involves outreach to and participation from county governments, local governments, economic development organizations, labor unions, institutions of higher education, workforce developers, community organizations, non-profits, utilities, and businesses.

Draft 2025-2029 CEDS

Advancing the Alleghenies, the Southern Alleghenies Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), 2025-2029 is a data-driven regional planning effort that is intended to promote and coordinate economic development across our six counties over the next five years. It is required for the region to receive Economic Development Administration funding, and is used to support many other federal and state funding applications. SAP&DC’s CEDS Committee has been hard at work over the past year drafting this document to replace our 2020-2024 CEDS. A draft of the 2025-2029 CEDS and its analyses, goals, objectives, strategies, measurable outcomes, and implementation partners has been completed and is available below.

Document: The 2025-2029 CEDS (Draft V.3)

SAP&DC is seeking feedback and comments on this draft from its counties, county planning commissions, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, business leaders, and private citizens. After reviewing this document, SAP&DC invites you to submit any feedback or ideas for improvement that you may have to Lee Slusser, AICP, SAP&DC’s Planning and Community Development Director, at lslusser@sapdc.org or 3 Sheraton Drive, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601-9343. Given its importance, all feedback is welcomed and appreciated. Our goal is to have this document completed and adopted by the SAP&DC Board of Directors before the end of this year.

CEDS Committee

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee is responsible for economic development planning in the region. The CEDS Committee prepares and updates the CEDS. The Committee represents major interests of the region to ensure that viewpoints from all components of the community are considered. It leverages local skills and resources when developing and implementing the CEDS.

Updated January 2024

Name	Affiliation	County or Affiliation
Natalie Toma	Penn Highlands Community College	Higher Education Representative
Marty Malone	ACTS – Altoona Office, Blair County	Private Sector Representative
Kellie Shaffer	Bedford County Chamber of Commerce	Private Sector Representative
Blake Fleegle	Westwood Plaza Theatre, Cambria County	Private Sector Representative
Diana McClure	Keller Engineers, Blair County	Private Sector Representative
Jennifer Sklodowski	Director, Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board	Workforce Representative
Beth Futrick	Cherry Hill Farm/Blair Cty Conservation District, Blair County	Agriculture Representative
Rick Truscello	Resident, Cambria County	Private Sector Representative
Larry Myers	Schneider Electric, Bedford County	Private Sector Representative
Stephen McKnight	Altoona Blair County Development Corporation	Economic Development Representative
Matthew Price	Huntingdon County Convention and Visitors Bureau	Tourism Industry Representative
Paul Johnston	Fulton Industrial Development Association	Economic Development Representative
Karen Gnagey	Aon Investment Consulting, Somerset County	Private Sector Representative