Facilities & Services   |   back Economic Development At its inception, one of the original functions of the COG was economic development planning and technical assistance. The staff monitors economic conditions of the region, conducts occasional specialized studies and coordinates programs of the Economic Development Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce). • Infrastructure Projects A primary economic development activity at the COG is the identification and development of infrastructure projects that are eligible for funding assistance through the Economic Development Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce). These public works grants and related activities include nearly 100 projects and $50 million in EDA funding to the region in the last 35 years. The COG has also assisted with related funding applications to other agencies for these infrastructure improvements. Typical projects funded by EDA are water and sewer improvements, railroad improvements and expansions of technical colleges. • Economic Planning & Technical Assistance In addition to project-specific activities, overall economic planning activities include: Providing economic data to local governments, business, industry and organizations on a continuing basis; Preparing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region on a periodic basis; and, Preparation of master plans for public industrial parks in the region; Assisting communities with strategic planning (including assistance with federal Enterprise and Empowerment Zone applications); On a periodic basis, undertaking specialized studies or surveys, including cost of living surveys of urban counties, the Florence Civic Center Feasibility Study, an Infrastructure Assessment of the I-95 Corridor and others. For more information on Economic Development Programs, contact Phil Goff, Assistant Director. [email protected]