THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) IN THE REGION SERVED BY THE NORTHWEST KANSAS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, WHICH COMPRISES CHEYENNE, DECATUR, RAWLINS, NORTON, PHILLIPS, SMITH, OSBORNE, ROOKS, GRAHAM, SHERIDAN, THOMAS, SHERMAN, WALLACE, LOGAN, GOVE, TREGO, ELLIS AND RUSSELL 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.