THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) IN THE GULF COAST REGION WHICH IS SERVED BY THE GULF COAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, INC. 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. THE REGION IS COMPRISED OF AUSTIN, BRAZORIA, CHAMBERS, COLORADO, FORT BEND, GALVESTON, HARRIS, LIBERTY, MATAGORDA, MONTGOMERY, WALKER, WALLER AND WHARTON COUNTIES, TEXAS WHERE EACH WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TOWARD LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.