About the GCEDD
The Gulf Coast Economic Development District (GCEDD) is the federally designated economic development planning body for the 13-county Gulf Coast State Planning Region.
GCEDD activities can be divided into four basic categories:
1) Providing a forum for local economic development professionals and local governments to exchange ideas and develop shared goals and initiatives that benefit local and regional economies.
2) Formulating a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), in accordance with the requirements of the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to provide a framework for regional economic development planning. Click here to view or download the current CEDS.
3) Supporting workshops, conferences and training events that stimulate the regional economy and provide valuable information to local governments, businesses, and economic development corporations. Examples include the Small Business Financing Options Forum held on July 11, 2008 and the upcoming Food and Sustainable Prosperity Conference to be held on September 4, 2008.
4) Deliver technical assistance on EDA grant applications and disseminate information regarding economic development tools and strategies, funding opportunities (i.e., grants, venture capital, and loans) and regional economic conditions. Examples including the Monthly Economic Digest and the Regional Industrial Cluster Analysis, to be released during the fall of 2008.
The GCEDD Board
The GCEDD Board of Directors meets four times a year. The 20 member Board includes representatives from local governments, economic development corporations, community development organizations and the private sector. Board meetings are open to the public and include presentations on a variety of topics from assessing the viability of rural communities to identifying sources of venture capital.
For additional information please contact: Chuck Wemple, Economic Development Program Manager at 713.993.4514 or cwemple@h-gac.com
Physical Address
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 120
Houston, Texas 77227
Front Desk: 713.627.3200
Fax: 713.993.4503
Mailing Address
Houston-Galveston Area Council
PO Box 22777
Houston, TX 77227-2777