THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) IN THE COASTAL BEND REGION WHICH IS SERVED BY THE COASTAL BEND COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. 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 ARANSAS, BEE, BROOKS, DUVAL, JIM WELLS, KENEDY, KLEBERG, LIVE OAK, NUECES, REFUGIO, AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES, TEXAS WHERE EACH WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TOWARD LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.