Community Economic Development (CED) is action taken locally by a community to provide economic opportunities and improve social conditions in a sustainable way. Often CED initiatives aim to improve the lot of those who are disadvantaged. An aspect of "localizing economics," CED is a community-centred process that blends social and economic development to foster the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities.

Community ecomomic development is an alternative to conventional economic development. Its central tenet is that: "... problems facing communities — unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control — need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way."^*

External links

• The Canadian CED Network
• Statement of CED Principles
• CED Gateway (index)