The activities of the Old Colony Planning Council are guided by the Annual Work Program of the Council adopted each year along with an Annual Operating Budget just prior to the start of the fiscal year.  Recently, the Council's Work Program has been concentrated in five major program areas consistent with it on-going responsibilities as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Transportation and Transit Planning; as the Area Agency on Agency; Comprehensive and Environmental Planning; Geographic Information System (GIS) Service Center; and as an Economic Development District.  Accordingly, the Council prepares each year a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report, which presents a description of the area's economic conditions and establishes priorities for projects designed to improve the economy.  The Council also prepares annually the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which establishes the priorities for the area's transportation improvements; and, the Area Agency on Aging Plan for elder services in the region.  Master Plans, GIS maps and other specific technical planning reports are also generated in accordance with contractual responsibilities.

 In addition, a significant portion of the Council's effort is directed toward general planning and local technical assistance programs.  The Council also serves as a State Data Center and is the repository of socioeconomic data and information for each member community of the Council.