What is a Regional Development Organization?
Regional development organizations are multi-county planning and development districts that encourage cooperation between citizens, local government officials, and the private sector.
Initially created in the 1960's, they have grown in number to over 300 and are located throughout the United States.
These regional organizations are best equipped to help rural areas because they provide a critical mass of expertise needed at the local level.
Regional Development Organizations are known by many different names, including:
Area Development District (ADD)
Business Development Corporation
Council of Governments (COG)
Development Council
Economic Development Commission
Economic Development District (EDD)
Local Development District (LDD)
Planning District Commission (PDC)
Planning and Development District (PDD)
Regional Development Center (RDC)
Regional Planning Commission (RPC)
Regional Development Organizations are the catalists for strategic planning in rural communities.
They help identify local needs and priorities.
In addition to planning, regions sponsor many programs, including services for the poor and elderly, job training, small business finance, and minority enterprise programs.
Each region is governed by a policy board that includes elected officials, business leaders and citizen representatives.
Because they are flexible, regions are more often more creative in seeking innovative solutions to local problems.
They frequently function as "laboratories for new ways of governing."
Copyright NADO, 1997
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