The Institute for Economic Development has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to fund a three-year program, the Eagle Ford Shale Community Development Program (EFSCDP). It will provide communities in South Texas with planning services, research, and workshops to explore and develop strategies for creating a vibrant and sustainable economy for the future. The EFSCDP will help communities make sound decisions about how to react to predictable changes in EFS business activity in order to promote sustainable economic progress by: increasing community capacity, developing strategic plans, improving leadership, and sharing best practices within South Texas rural communities being directly and indirectly impacted by the Eagle Ford Shale (EFS) oil and gas activity. The Institute for Economic Development refers to this innovative approach as “strategically-sequenced” economic development.