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Peer 2 Peer Session
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Greetings!
Those
of us who live in rural Nova Scotia have another name for March:
pothole season. The heave and shift of our roadways goes hand in hand
with the spring thaw, making potholes a part of life in Northern
climates - especially during March.
As
the roads get bumpier, I am reminded of the importance of this
fundamental piece of economic infrastructure. And yet, there's one
piece of infrastructure that sometimes gets overlooked: Networks.
Whether
you are talking about fiber optic networks, social networks, community
networks, or even the RDA network, connectedness to the bigger picture
is essential to success in business, in life and in economic
development.
As an
Association, NSARDA is committed to building capacity within our
communities and within our members, by sharing best practices and
collaborating to solve tough problems. In other words, we regard
networking and idea-sharing as a critical business activity.
As
you will read in this issue, our internationally-recognized Business
Retention & Expansion (BRE) program features regular peer-to-peer
sessions which allows our BRE officers, working in diverse communities
across Nova Scotia, to come together and learn from one another. This
benefits not only our RDA network, but businesses and communities
across the province.
Happy commuting,
Gerry Grant
Chair, NSARDA
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Networking in Action
BRE Peer to Peer
Nova Scotia's Business
Retention & Expansion account executives met in Halifax earlier
this year to talk shop. BRE is an internationally-recognized program
that helps Nova Scotia's businesses grow and compete locally,
nationally and internationally.
Thirteen BRE account executives gathered at the session, which wa s
moderated by NSARDA's BRE consultant, Martin Walker. "This was an
opportunity for the account executives to brainstorm, share ideas and
talk strategy in a very loose, informal setting," says Walker.
Four account executives
presented case studies on emerging challenges and opportunities
affecting business in their communities. Topics covered included the
impact of a major energy generating facility on local businesses,
insights from the recent BRE International conference in New Orleans,
and how other provincial departments can leverage the power of BRE to
better engage their clients. In addition, two roundtable sessions were
offered for account executives to raise questions or challenges they
are facing, and receive input from their counterparts across the
province.
Walker, who has spent
his entire career in business and economic development, says offering
account executives an opportunity to network is critical to the success
of the BRE program. "We all have so much to gain from one another," he
says. Not least of all, a sense of enthusiasm. "This is a dynamic,
talented and enthusiastic team."
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| Ready to Grow
Hants RDA spearheads investment readiness plan for West Hants
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An
investment readiness project spearheaded by the Hants Regional
Development Authority is making West Hants more attractive to potential
employers looking to set up shop in the area.
"We
know that the communities of West Hants offer businesses a powerful
competitive advantage," says Hants RDA Acting Executive Director Emilie
de Rosenroll. "This project is helping us to build a rock solid case
for why businesses in expansion mode should locate here."
Attracting
new businesses to the area helps the local economy by creating
employment and spin off benefits, as well as attracting newcomers to
the region and growing the tax base, says de Rosenroll, "It's an
important area of focus within business development for the Hants RDA."
But
business attraction is a competitive market, with many regions from
around the world vying for a piece of the action. To compete for
investment, and to ensure the businesses that set up in Hants West are
truly compatible with what the region has to offer, West Hants required
an overall strategy, says de Rosenroll. "It's not just about winning
business - it's about finding the right business."
The
Investment Readiness Project was launched in 2009, with support from
the Towns of Windsor and Hantsport, the Municipality of West Hants and
the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development.
The objectives of the  project
are to gather and present data that business decision-makers require
when selecting a location, address obstacles that might prevent a
business from choosing West Hants, develop a strategy to coordinate
stakeholder efforts, and to prepare marketing materials to support
business attraction efforts. So
far, community profiles have been prepared for various communities
within West Hants. The profiles include the type of information
investors are looking for: labour market and demographic data, as well
as information on available real estate, infrastructure and municipal
services. "This information has never been gathered and housed in a
central location," says de Rosenroll. "Investors want a one-stop shop
for intelligence. We're filling that need."
One
obstacle to investment is a lack of serviced commercial real estate,
she says. To this end, the Hants RDA has commissioned and received a
Business Park Feasibility Study. Moving forward, the Authority will be
developing a number of communications tools to assist in marketing the
region to potential employers. An upgraded website, a Regional
Investment Intelligence Profile as well as other marketing collateral
should be ready soon.
Another
important element: creating a strategy - with input from the towns,
municipal and provincial government partners - to coordinate investment
attraction efforts and guide how West Hants is marketed to the world.
"Ultimately,
our goal is to target our marketing efforts to companies and sectors
that represent the greatest opportunity for future investment in Hants
County," says de Rosenroll.
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| BRE in Practice
Nova Scotia BRE Success Stories
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Businesses
are the backbone of Nova Scotia economies. Helping the province's
businesses grow and compete by overcoming obstacles and seizing
opportunities for growth is central to NSARDA's Business Retention and
Expansion Program. Each month, NSARDA will highlight the impact and
successes of the internationally recognized BRE program in communities
across Nova Scotia. This month, we're featuring the work of BRE
officers at the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority.
Bringing Personalized Greetings to a Mailbox near You
 In 2010, two young men met with the Cape
Breton County Economic Development Authority (CBCEDA) with an idea to
start an online greeting card business, the first ever of its kind in
Canada. Read the story...
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BRE Stats
Since
BRE began, BRE Officers have reached out to 3057 businesses, generating
2543 service referrals. Across Nova Scotia, the efforts of BRE
officers have lead to 4073 jobs being created and retained.
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BRE SUPPORTING PARTNERS
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The Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities
(NSARDA) is the link between the Nova Scotia Regional Development
Authorities', providing support and collective strength. Since 1999,
NSARDA has helped the Nova Scotia RDAs in improving the economy of
communities across Nova Scotia.
NSARDA
1.866.713.3588
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| Follow BRE on Twitter |
| Get up to the minute BRE news. Become a follower at twitter.com/IgniteNS |
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Upcoming Events
March 24, 2011 Webinar- Rural Economic Development/Main St. Renewal & Paducah Relocation Strategy for Neighborhood
Renewal, Featuring Karen Malcolm from Strait-Highlands RDA
1 pm CT
March 28, April 26, May 24, & June 27
Diversity in the Workplace: A Four part Series
Location TBD
April 27, 2011
Administration & Finance Peer to Peer Session
Halifax
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