_________________________________________ Building a 21st Century Workforce in the Columbia Basin-Boundary Region Annual Workforce Development Learning Summit Nelson, BC June 19, 2017 Dr. Terri MacDonald Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development Selkirk College
Agenda Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters Workforce Development Photo Courtesy of MIDAS
Build it and They Will Come Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters Economic Development Prevailing Approaches Open for Business Big Game Hunting The Next Big Thing Build it and They Will Come Improve the general business climate Compete aggressively for plants and new investments Enter new high tech/growth industries Invest in large infrastructure/industrial zone projects
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters What are ‘clusters’? Geographic concentration of interconnected companies, suppliers, service providers, that operate in the same or related industry sectors Competitiveness but also cooperation between companies What are ‘cluster initiatives’? Collaborative activities by a group of companies, public sector entities, and other related institutions with the objective to improve the competitiveness of a group of interlinks economic activities in a specific geographic region Competitiveness but also cooperation between companies Involves upgrading of company operations and strategies across a group of companies, upgrading of cluster-specific business environment conditions, and strengthening of networks to enhance spill-overs and other benefits
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Economic Development & Growing Competitive Clusters
Living wage – has been passed by US local governments typically affect only certain groups of workers such as public employees and workers whose employers have government contracts or are receiving economic development subsidies CBA – between community groups and a developer to set forth a range of community benefits as part of the project e.g. affordable housing, green building practices, parks, childcare centres, etc. Incentive criteria – ‘low road’ economic dvp strategy of providing tax incentives for businesses to come, expand or not leave Hire local – could be part of CBAs and incentive criteria Trade or labour unions – bargain with employers on behalf of their members
Examples of Cluster-Focus Strategies
Growing Competitive Clusters Building a 21st Century Workforce Facilitating Inclusive Access to Quality Jobs Enhancing and Building Regional Industry-Education-Community Collaborations
Regional Cluster Development Mining & Metals Forestry Advanced Manufacturing Tourism Technology
_________________________________________ Building a 21st Century Workforce in the Columbia Basin-Boundary Region Annual Workforce Development Learning Summit Nelson, BC June 19, 2017 Dr. Terri MacDonald Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development Selkirk College