THIS EDA PLANNING INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) FOR THE REGION SERVED BY THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WHICH COMPRISES THE COUNTIES OF ATCHISON, GENTRY, HOLT, NODAWAY, AND WORTH. THE CEDS PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE CREATION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP TO DIVERSIFY AND STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.