Community Economic Adjustment Program

Providing resources for recovery in communities distressed by manufacturing decline

The EDA CEAP began in the fall of 2006, when the University of Michigan’s Center for Economic Diversification received a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assist communities in the decline of automotive and manufacturing industries in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Partnering with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the EDA CEAP helps to reduce the socioeconomic hardship communities experience as the result of plant closures and restructuring in automotive and manufacturing industries.

CEAP Regions through March 2011

The program's other partnerships include Purdue's Center for Regional Development (PCRD), Cleveland State University (CSU), and Ohio University (OU). Those institutions administer EDA CEAP activities in Indiana and Ohio respectively.

The EDA CEAP connects communities to support services and/or funding opportunities available through federal, state, and non-profit resources and can assist in the proposal preparation process.

The CEAP program is a three phase process:

1. Leadership Roundtable Discussion: convenes 20-25 key stakeholders to identify the critical needs of the region as they relate to the automotive manufacturing industry’s restructuring as well as potential projects and proposals that might be pursued to assist the community during the socioeconomic recovery process. This helps to identify the most critical needs in the region.
2. Workshop: is attended by local stakeholders during which Federal, State, and Non-Profit agency representatives introduce programs and services and meet with community leaders individually to discuss projects and subsequent proposals for development. The Workshop provides opportunities to network and gather information on the grants and services that are available.
3. Work Session (Proposal Assistance Preparation/Writing): assists stakeholders in identifying potential funding sources in addition to preparing specific project proposals.

To learn more about CEAP or to download RESOURCE GUIDES to Federal and State funding, visit this CEAP website.

About The Center for Automotive Research

CAR, a nonprofit organization, is focused on a wide variety of important trends and changes related to the automobile industry and society at the international, federal, state and local levels.

CAR conducts industry research, develops new methodologies, forecasts industry trends, advises on public policy, and sponsors multi-stakeholder communication forums.