1. WELCOME Thank You for Coming
Our Project Partners:
Cathy Robertson – Community Futures Cowichan
Amy Melmock – Economic Development Cowichan (CVRD)
Sonja Nagel – Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce
Peter van Dongen and Chris Duncan – MNP LLP

3. What We’ve Done
Partners brought together business leaders in six industry sectors for a series of roundtables.
More than 60 business leaders from across the Cowichan participated.
This opened the door to a new level of dialogue with the local business community.
SONJA – Highlight there was involvement from all parts of the region

4. Each sector told us their top three priorities.
The Six Sectors
Retail
Manufacturing & Processing
Construction & Real Estate
Tourism
Agriculture
Technology & Innovation
SONJA
Each sector told us their top three priorities.

6. Retail
Increase our customer base by attracting more people into the region
Develop a cohesive brand and identity for the region
Create a “Buy Local” awareness campaign
RON – provide some lead-in; give specific examples of what we heard to support these priorities, i.e. who was in the room (types of businesses), broad mix/cross-section
CAVEAT: Be Brief!

7. Tourism Increase collaboration amongst tourism operators
Develop a cohesive brand and identity for the region
Sell the Cowichan story to the world
RON – provide specific examples and a what types of operators participated

8. Manufacturing & Processing
Improve collaboration with local government
Develop and retain a skilled, stable and experienced workforce
Remove barriers to productivity, growth and expansion
RON – provide examples round table summaries

9. Construction & Real Estate
Develop better communication and collaboration with local government
Create a unifying vision for the region
Build an optimal mix of housing options to strengthen our economic base
RON

10. Agriculture
Streamline the local, provincial and federal regulatory environment
Move beyond studies to initiate projects that create lasting results for producers
Develop a labour recruitment and retention model
RON – give some examples

11. Technology & Innovation
Increase and improve connectivity
Help attract and develop a talent pool of skilled workers for the sector
Define who is working in the region’s tech sector, and who we want to attract in the future
RON: mention this session was part of the lead-up to creating a Tech Strategy

12. The Common Threads
Increase and improve collaboration and communication with local government
Create a unifying vision for the region’s future
Develop community infrastructure that supports economic development
Identify and address labour challenges and solutions
AMY – this will segue into the following slides

14. Local Government: Improving Service Delivery
CVRD is streamlining the approval process through Bi-Weekly Board Meetings and hiring of a frontline Plan Review person.
CVRD is the only Regional District in BC to ask for its own Approving Officer so that the development permit process can take place locally.
AMY – introduce Speaker Brian Carruthers (CVRD) – he’ll have 2 MIN to address slide from panel table

15. Local Government: Community Consultations
Town of Ladysmith hosted roundtable discussions with local builders and developers, and held a highly successful Waterfront Development consultation process.
AMY – will introduce Speaker: Guillermo Ferroro (Town of Ladysmith) – he’ll have 2 MIN to speak to slide
AMY: will contact Peter de Vertuille (City of Duncan) for info and possible panel participation

16. Local Government: Communication
PlaceSpeak is a region-wide activity that all businesses can participate in.
North Cowichan Tax Incentive information sessions with Chamber of Commerce, zoning reviews and town hall meetings.
AMY: will introduce Speaker Natasha Horsman (North Cowichan) – will have 2 MIN to speak from panel table

17. Creating a Unifying Vision
Cowichan 2050 aims at bringing together government, business and community to define shared values and create a shared vision.
Vision 2050 will work in collaboration alongside the above process.
Tourism Cowichan is creating a visual identity for the region.
Economic Development Cowichan is positioning investment and lifestyle through a new website.
AMY: will ask Brian Carruthers to speak to first two bullet points
Amy will cover last two bullet points
ADD TOURISM COWICHAN GRAPHIC/BRANDING

18. Community Infrastructure
We need more affordable and attainable housing options for residents and workers.
The Cowichan Housing Association is raising awareness of the need for affordable housing across the spectrum.
AMY: Answer the question “Why should business folks care about this issue?”
Terri Dame – 3 minute presentation

19. Labor Challenges and Solutions
Creating a regional Labour and Employment Action Committee
Newcomers and Immigrants are part of the labour solution
The role of Vancouver Island University (VIU) in trades and skills training
AMY: briefly highlight intention of LEA committee – create awareness of resources, identify labour shortages, share employer best practices for hiring/retaining workers
Keith Chiquen to speak to VIU Priorities
Cowichan Intercultural Society & Global Vocational Services – employment programs to support immigrants

20. What’s Next for the Project Partners?
Community Futures Cowichan:
Productivity Initiative, Export Navigator Program
Economic Development Cowichan:
Tech Study, Industrial Land Use Study, Forestry and Agriculture Projects
Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce:
Ongoing Advocacy
MNP:
2017 VIEA State of the Island Economic Report, 2018 MNP Cowichan Business Leaders Survey
Each partner to speak – how long?
Peter will speak to Chris Duncan re: MNP bullet
ADD “ANOTHER SURVEY/REPORT NEXT YEAR”?

22. Where do WE go from here?
The Project Partners have formed a habit of working collaboratively together, consulting with our stakeholders and local government, to identify shared opportunities.
All of us here today are in this together!
We need you to meet us half-way….
CATHY – will lead the Q&A session; ask group, “What do you want to talk about?”; “Any burning questions?”; also script some questions to have in your back pocket
Remind folks to complete the Evaluation Survey and take a copy of the Report with them.
CARRIE: Create an Evaluation Survey, based on MNP model (PETER – send template to Carrie and Cathy)
Was this session valuable?
What was your #1 takeaway”
Would you like more info on these initiatives? (Labour Action Committee, Affordable Housing, Cowichan 2050)