Use for CEDS Reports

The LEAP model can be very useful for fulfilling the requirements of a CEDS report.* The design of the system mirrors the process of economic development so that developers can easily sketch out the needs of their area. The three tools of LEAP can be used in the following ways:

• Base Assessment - this provides a snapshot of an area's economy over a time interval (usually 5 years) that can be used in the background section of a CEDS report. This allows the user to see the industry trends (vs. the US) and composition (vs. a Comparison Area), which show which industries are growing and contracting as well as industry clusters. The Assessment report identifies those industries that are falling behind as a "performance gap."
• Diagnosis - this tool will be useful in identifying strengths and weaknesses of an area. The Factors report shows social, economic and transportation factors that affect an area's economy. This allows for an area to compare itself to a competing area (i.e. Comparison Area) to see where it is leading and lagging. The Barriers report then uses those factors that were lagging to explain why industries were underperforming. The barriers are those factors that should be addressed for the area to grow; therefore they represent problems and opportunities for advancement. These barriers may be used to define goals and objectives for a regional plan. 
• Policy Analysis - the final tool in LEAP may be used to estimate results from a policy change in the area. This is initiated by an improvement in one or multiple factors (mentioned above). The results then show how each industry is affected by this change in policy. This section may be used in the performance measures section of the CEDS report to show the effects of implementing a regional strategy.

* CEDS - Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, a bi-annual report published by Local Development Districts (LDDs) as mandated under federal law and administered by the Economic Development Administration.