Strategic planning is a form of organizational planning appropriate for local development organizations (LDO's). It is a "producer-oriented" process to the extent that the aims, resources and capabilities of the local development organization are determined before area-wide goals and problems are addressed. Rather than represent a general prescriptive plan for all local organizations, the plan of the local development organization is one piece of the mosaic of organizational plans which must be jointly pursued to effect successful economic development. This article provides an overview of the strategic planning process as it might be used by local economic development directors.