THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) IN THE EAST TEXAS REGION, WHICH INCLUDES ANDERSON, CAMP, CHEROKEE, GREGG, HARRISON, HENDERSON, MARION, PANOLA, RAINS, RUSK, SMITH, UPSHUR, VAN ZANDT, AND WOOD COUNTIES. 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.