Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $350,000 to the Crater Planning District Commission (CPDC) under the Economic Development Support for Planning Organizations program (CFDA 11.302) to develop and implement a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Crater Planning District region in Petersburg, Virginia. The award, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, supports a three-year planning investment designed to bring together public and private sector stakeholders in creating a strategic economic development roadmap. The CEDS initiative will identify regional economic assets, establish development priorities, and create actionable implementation frameworks to diversify and strengthen the regional economy while prioritizing the creation and retention of higher-skill, higher-wage employment opportunities for unemployed and underemployed populations in the economically distressed five-county service area comprising Charles City, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex counties.

CPDC, operating as the Procurement Assistance Center, will manage and coordinate all CEDS development and implementation activities. The planning process will facilitate multisector stakeholder engagement and regional collaboration, drawing on the organization's established expertise in economic development planning, technical assistance, and regional strategic initiatives. The deliverables will include comprehensive strategic planning documents, stakeholder engagement activities, and implementation coordination activities to guide regional economic development efforts over the three-year performance period.