Residents across Jackson and Josephine Counties now have an opportunity to help shape the region’s economic roadmap for the next five years. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) has released a draft of the 2025–2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and is encouraging public input throughout the month of July. The updated strategy, titled “One Rogue Valley – Reimagined,” lays out the priorities, goals, and regional vision for building economic resilience and long-term prosperity in Southern Oregon.
The CEDS is more than just a planning document—it’s a living strategy developed by and for the communities of Southern Oregon. It identifies key opportunities and challenges facing the region, addresses how to support business growth, workforce development, infrastructure, and innovation, and guides how to respond to economic shifts with resilience. SOREDI, which serves as the regional Planning Organization recognized by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), is leading the effort to revise and finalize this vital document.
Public participation is not only welcome but essential. Residents, business owners, local leaders, and stakeholders from all walks of life are invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback before it is finalized. The public comment period opens on July 1, 2025, and continues through July 30, 2025. All feedback received during this time will be carefully reviewed and considered before the final strategy is submitted to the EDA later this year.
The full draft of the “One Rogue Valley – Reimagined” strategy can be accessed online through SOREDI’s website, where visitors can also submit comments via an online form. For those preferring a physical copy, printed versions are available by request at SOREDI’s office in downtown Medford, located at 100 E Main Street, Suite A. Requests can also be made by calling (541) 773-8946.
Comments can be submitted in several ways: by email to info@soredi.org, by traditional mail to SOREDI at P.O. Box 4672, Medford, OR 97501, or through the digital feedback form found on the One Rogue Valley section of SOREDI’s website.
The goal of the CEDS is to provide a shared regional vision for sustainable economic development, helping secure federal funding, strengthen local partnerships, and support job creation across Southern Oregon. Public involvement is a critical part of ensuring the plan reflects the needs and values of those who live and work in the Rogue Valley.
By participating in this process, community members can play an active role in shaping how the region grows, adapts, and thrives through the end of the decade.