Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development District

The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District (EDD) unites the counties of Mendocino and Sonoma in creating the first joint economic development strategy for the two-county region. To be developed in collaboration with input from local partners and community members, the multi-year strategy aims to uncover untapped economic potential in the region and to secure a robust and stable regional economy for many years to come. 

The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District is a two-county partnership, created through a joint power's agreement in 2015, to engage in regional economic development planning. County leaders recognized an important opportunity to coordinate and pool resources in areas where joint planning can accomplish more for the region’s development than either county’s independent efforts. The District is responsible for overseeing completion and implementation of the Sonoma-Mendocino CEDS. The last, and current, CEDS was written in 2016 and is currently being updated by a regional strategy committee. 

• Sonoma-Mendocino Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (pdf 4 MB)
• Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District Joint Powers of Agreement (pdf 3.3 MB)

A CEDS is a federally-required regional economic development plan that must be completed in order to become eligible for various funding programs under the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. A CEDS should not be viewed solely as a mechanism for qualifying for federal funding. It should serve as a roadmap for regional economic development in general—linking, leveraging, and aligning local assets and stakeholders to achieve regional goals. 

Round 2 of Feedback Begins

Sonoma and Mendocino County residents, business owners, and stakeholders are invited to participate in a second round feedback on the draft five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Using the first round of community input, the CEDS Strategy Committee has further honed the strategies and goals outlined in the CEDS draft to better reflect the economic development needs of the region. Current goals include:

• Further development of innovative and value-added sectors
• Increase equitable community-wide prosperity
• Accessible and affordable services and training for regional community
• Community resiliency against fire and drought

Click here to view the draft CEDS. Goals, objectives, strategies, and projects are listed at pages 20-47. Submit your comments or questions to SMEDD Economic Development District Manager, Bradley Johnson, at Bradley.Johnson@sonoma-county.org. Public comment period for the draft CEDS will close on Tuesday, June 7th.

2022 Draft CEDS (PDF: 21.3 MB)

Feedback: Bradley.Johnson@sonoma-county.org

CEDS Strategy Committee Meetings

Mar 1, 2022, 1:00 PM | AGENDA AND PACKET 
Mar 16, 2022, 1:00 PM | AGENDA AND PACKET 
April 7, 2022, 9:00 AM | AGENDA AND PACKET

The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District’s Board of Director’s meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from 10-12PM. Logistics for future meetings can be found in the agendas posted below. Board meetings are accessible to the public.

Jan 20, 2022 10:00 AM | AGENDA
Jan 27, 2022 10:00 AM Special Meeting | AGENDA
Feb 17, 2022 10:00 AM | AGENDA 
Mar 17, 2022 10:00 AM | AGENDA | ADDENDUM 
April 1, 2022, 2:00 PM Speacial Meeting | AGENDA 
April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM | AGENDA
April 27, 2022, 4:15 PM Special Meeting | AGENDA
May 19, 2022, 10:00 AM | AGENDA

Mendocino County

Sonoma County

SMEDD Appointed

Staff