EMCOG receives grant funding every 3-years from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assist economically distressed communities in the region as well as develop the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDs). The most current CEDS covers the period 2021-2025 and includes the EDA CARES COVID Economic Recovery Strategy Addendum to the CEDS.
Funds from EDA are also utilized to provide technical assistance in grant writing for community infrastructure projects, provision of the most current census and employment data, participation in local and regional initiatives such as the Regional Prosperity Initiative which ended in 2019. EMCOG assistance to local units is designed to assist with capacity development within member units, enhance economic and community development on a local and regional level and improve regional resiliency and sustainability. These efforts are documented within the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).