In October 2008, the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) initiated a project with the support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration to develop innovative economic development strategies with three Northern Michigan regional planning partners-the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission (EUPRPDC), Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG), and Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG). The three regional planning agencies cover 21 counties, 18 in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula and three in the Eastern Upper Peninsula:

• Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, including Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties.
• Northeast Michigan Council of Governments, including Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties.
• Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission, including Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac counties.

The goal of the project is to create new knowledge-based jobs and businesses in the regions by competing more successfully in the global knowledge economy. By understanding the dynamics and demands of global knowledge economy forces, regional leaders can better align their regional investment priorities with those demands.

The three regional planning agency partners are also designated economic development districts (EDDs) by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Each partner is participating in assessing their current regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), and developing and implementing collaborative learning (co-learning) plans.

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is a continuous planning process that is designed to promote sustainable economic development and opportunities. This strategy is used to analyze local conditions and identify problems and opportunities so that the goals and visions of the community can be met. A successful CEDS process is logical and leads to high-skill job creation. Each CEDS is unique to its region, so criteria and performance measures will be different for each one.

In order to prepare a CEDS, a committee of community stakeholders is formed to oversee the CEDS process and ensure that a broad range of viewpoints are represented. The committee adopts a work plan describing each task and oversees timely implementation.

The CEDS must describe the background of the region, including a demographic profile, major economic sectors and their employment, income, and revenues as well as other factors affecting economic performance. Economic strengths and weaknesses must be addressed as well as external trends and forces affecting economic development.

Visions, goals, and objectives provide a focus for the region's development for the next 10 to 20 years and respond to challenges and problems. They serve as a framework for future decision-making and prioritizing regional actions.

Finally, the CEDS contains an evaluation of the planning process and what can be done better. It documents the steps in the process and community participation.

After EDA approval of the CEDS, EDA-funded planning grantees are required to document their progress in the implementation of their economic development activities. The CEDS can be adjusted to accommodate new opportunities or problems, and changes must be documented in annual reports. A new, updated, or revised CEDS is required every five years, or sooner, if deemed necessary by the EDA due to changed circumstances. The document must be available to the public.

Implementation of the co-learning plans will provide regional planners and their stakeholders with new knowledge and greater capacity. This new knowledge and capacity, then, will serve as a platform for regional planners and stakeholders to create innovative regional economic development strategies to compete successfully in the global knowledge economy.

Regions

1. Northeast Michigan corresponds to the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) region of eight counties in the Lower Peninsula: Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle.
2. Northwest Michigan corresponds to the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG) region of ten counties in the Lower Peninsula: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford.
3. The Eastern Upper Peninsula corresponds to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission (EUPRPDC) region of three counties: Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac.