A Regional Roadmap to Economic Prosperity
A Regional Roadmap to Economic Prosperity
Franklin County’s 2025-2030 Economic Strategy is Here
Thank You for Your Voice. The Final Plan is Now Available.
The Franklin County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is proud to release the Final 2025-2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) — a dynamic, community-driven blueprint for building a stronger, more resilient Franklin County.
After a thorough public comment period, we are grateful to the business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, builders, farmers, planners, and residents from every corner of the county who shared their invaluable feedback. This plan is a direct result of that collaboration, combining powerful economic data with powerful local voices.
This final strategy is rooted in a bold, central vision to reverse the population decline of our young adults.
The Vision: People Are the Strategy
Our region’s single biggest challenge is the 20.7% decline in residents aged 20–39 over the last 15 years. This group includes the skilled tradespeople, teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, and community members our economy depends on.
Our bold new vision is at the center of this entire strategy: By 2030, Franklin County will achieve a net increase of 2% in young adult residents — about 224 more people between the ages of 20 and 39 living and working in our communities.
View the Final Plan
This CEDS is our guide for the next five years. It outlines a people-first approach and identifies strategic projects and policies that local leaders, grantmakers, and communities can rally around to build our future.
We encourage everyone to read the final document and learn about the next steps for implementation.
- View the Final 2025-2030 CEDS: [Click Here to Download the Plan]
“We are deeply grateful for the community’s engagement in shaping this plan. Now, the real work begins. This CEDS is our roadmap, and we look forward to collaborating with all our partners to turn this bold vision into a reality for Franklin County.” — Jeremy Evans, CEO of FCEDC
Because Here in the Adirondack Frontier…
We don’t wait for change. We build it — with bold vision, smart strategy, and unstoppable community spirit.
- Our Vision and Goals
- Program
- Process
- Committee
- Public Input
- Document
Our Vision and Goals
The CEDS update is guided by five core goals that reflect Franklin County’s values and aspirations:
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Engage the Community
Create meaningful opportunities for residents, businesses, and organizations across all sectors to help shape the region’s economic future. -
Gather and Apply Meaningful Data
Use local and regional data to understand our economy—what’s working, where challenges exist, and how we can respond with strategic, informed actions. -
Identify Shared Priorities
Focus on collaborative efforts that drive long-term impact across the county, while supporting the distinct needs of individual communities. -
Attract Investment
Build a strategy that positions Franklin County to compete for state, federal, and philanthropic funding by showing we have a clear, credible, and united vision. -
Strengthen and Grow the Local Economy
Support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and key sectors such as agriculture, forestry, healthcare, tourism, and clean energy—those that form the backbone of our communities.
Program
A CEDS is a program of the United States Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The EDA is the only federal agency whose mission is solely focused on economic development. It provides funding in the form of grants and loans as well as technical assistance to state and local government and economic development organizations.
Its programs include:
◼ Public infrastructure
◼ Technology-based development
◼ Innovation and entrepreneurship
◼ Community facilities
◼ Business attraction and expansion assistance
◼ Workforce initiatives for disadvantaged communities
A CEDS is a prerequisite for designation as an EDA Economic Development District (EDD). Once this happens, municipalities at all levels are provided priority consideration when applying for funds, not only for EDA’s programs, but many other federal sources of funding, such as transportation, labor, health, etc.
Process
The CEDS process must include representation from public, private and non-profit sectors and typically involves an exercise to define expectations, a series of stakeholder engagement activities, data analysis of the regional economy and the creation and prioritization of action items and performance measures.
The shelf-life of a CEDS is five years, at which point it is necessary to assess progress and identify changes that need to be made.
Committee
Established by the planning organization, the Strategy Committee is the principal facilitator of the CEDS process and is responsible for developing and updating the CEDS. The Strategy Committee should broadly represent the main economic interests of the region.
Committee Roles
1. Actively contribute knowledge in areas of expertise
2. Collaborate with other members on interdisciplinary topics
3. Vet direction of strategies and implementation capacity
Representation
◼ The public sector
◼ Private interests
◼ Nonprofits
◼ Educational institutions
◼ Community organizations
“The Planning Organization must appoint a Strategy Committee. The Strategy Committee must represent the main economic interests of the Region, which may include Indian tribes, the private sector, State and other public officials, community leaders, private individuals, representatives of workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, minority and labor groups, and others who can contribute to and benefit from improved economic development in the relevant Region. In addition, the Strategy Committee must demonstrate the capacity to undertake a collaborative and effective planning process.”
Public Input
The Franklin County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) invites public comments on the draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2025 Update. The CEDS provides an analysis of the county’s economy and outlines goals, strategies, and priority projects for implementation. Public input is required as part of state and federal regulations.
Document
The CEDS document, which is submitted to the EDA, is meant to be a blueprint for activity that will bring about greater economic prosperity.
The document includes the following items:
◼ Summary background of the economic conditions of the region
◼ SWOT analysis
◼ Strategic direction/action plan
◼ Evaluation framework with performance measures
◼ Resiliency plan for recovery from natural and economic disaster
A CEDS is meant to integrate with and complement other economic development plans. Rather than being “owned” by any one agency, a CEDS consists of plans of action that may be undertaken by multiple players.