Economic Crisis Response Program

Province of Canada, 500,000 people 280 municipalities No constitutional authority Revenue is limited 74% have one or fewer staff Approximately 50% will have contested elections Financial transfers for operations decreasing National and provincial subsidies to capital infrastructure increasing or stable Context

Natural resource extraction Fisheries in decline, centralizing Oil and gas growing, already centralized Newsprint and forestry in decline Emerging sectors based in capital region Significant number of single industry communities or sector dependent communities Context

Municipalities NL as enabler Ten years of training and information on municipal role in economic development Focus on understanding economic development processes and municipal role in same Workshops, study tours, conferences Generalist approach Linking traditional municipal activities and services to economic development Context

Specific need for: Single industry towns Towns in crisis Vulnerable communities Council is first point of contact for: Media Residents Support agencies Higher orders of government Yet ill-equipped to manage the situation Rationale for ECRP

Target audience: Vulnerable communities Responding to crisis Preparing for possible crisis Manage the situation instead of it managing them Workshop, reference, guide Local, regional, sectoral opportunities Function of ECRP

Understanding the situation Three phases of transition Characteristics of single industry towns Patterns of decline Factors influencing successful transition Best practices in transition management Format of ECRP

Tools for management Leadership Team building Using champions Developing a communications plan Managing news media Communicating with the community Format of ECRP

Tools for economic development Strategic planning PEST Analysis SWOT Analysis Integrated work plans Consultants Proposal writing Opportunity management Community profiles Format of ECRP

Lessons learned Case studies Key contact lists Government agencies Non-government agencies Research and training Format of ECRP

Each section has: Explanation and background Group discussion questions Exercises Handouts Checklists References PowerPoint slides Samples and templates Format of ECRP

CD provided to all municipalities 500 binders distributed Website Workshop Reference Facilitator's guide Five workshops to date 20 planned for 2010 Interest from other agencies Delivery of ECRP

Economic Crisis Response Program