THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) IN THE REGION SERVED BY THE SOUTHERN IOWA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, INC., WHICH IS COMPRISED OF ADAIR, ADAMS, CLARKE, DECATUR, MADISON, RINGGOLD, TAYLOR AND UNION COUNTIES IN IOWA. 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.