Economic Development Strategy

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Economic Development Strategy

Aileen Murray Ec.D. (F) Manager of Economic Development Middlesex County [email protected] 519‐434‐7321 x 2347

Economic Development Strategy

McSweeney & Assoc. 2008

• Build on our Competitive

Strengths

–

Enhancing the Business

Environment

–

Manufacturing

–

Agriculture & the Bio‐

economy

–

Tourism

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Enhancing the Business

Environment

• Business Retention

• Small Business Support

• Labour Force Development

• Public Transportation

• High Speed Internet

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Manufacturing

• Business Visitation /Retention

• Investment Attraction focusing on

diversification

– Food processing potential

• Industrial Land Market Analysis Study

• Cooperation with manufacturing

associations & post secondary educators

• Workforce Development

– Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Committee – Resident Attraction & Retention

• Networking & Relationship Building

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Agriculture

• Establish Middlesex Agriculture Committee

– Explore alternative agri‐products – Engage Western University, other key stakeholders

• Bio‐products Stakeholder Taskforce

• Investment attraction targeting food processing & bio‐

products

• Build awareness & support opportunities in:

– Specialized crops – Value‐added food products – Agricultural cottage industries – Farm gate & artisan food products – Community Shared Agricultural (CSA) Products

• Develop & Promote local foods initiatives

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Tourism

• Review by‐laws that impede tourism

development

• Establish a Destination Marketing

Organization

–

Identify tourism assets

• Packaging (bundling) of tourism assets

–

Identify gaps in tourism products

–

Establish a sustainable tourism

development strategy

• Signage identified as an issue

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Foreign Direct Investment Strategy

• Strengthen Core Economic Development

Functions

– Deepen the County Economic Development Staff – Build from the Existing Employer Base – Capitalize on 2011 Core Initiatives

• Selective Proactive International Marketing

– Cultivate Federal and Provincial Foreign Investment Intermediaries – Leverage Regional and Sector Partnerships

• Develop Investor Customer Service Excellence

– Continuously Improve the Website – Improve Location Prospect Response – Fast Track Regulatory Permitting for Quality Development Projects 7

Employment Land Needs Analysis

• Employment Land Protection – Protection from conversion to non‐employment land uses – Standard framework for review of employment land conversion applications • Targeted Marketing – Tracking county‐wide development data – Additional comprehensive marketing materials – Regional & sector specific employment land marketing collaboration – Action oriented marketing of high‐priority employment land • Developable Land Supply and Provision for Market Choice – Balanced inventory of shovel ready employment land – Monitor inventory levels – Long‐term planning & development

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Marketing Strategy

• Web is primary communication tool

supported by print material and social

media strategy

• Search Engine Optimization

• E‐Newsletter

• Facebook and Twitter

• Audio and Video for testimonials

• Analytics

• Promote Toolbox

– Toolbox, Business Directory, Available Properties, Government Programs 9

2012 Economic Development Goals

Goals

• Awareness – referral generation, small

business support, trouble shooting

• Building economic development

capacity

• Supporting Municipal Efforts – corporate

visitation, ELNA

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Celebrating & sharing

good news in Middlesex County

www.investinmiddlesex.ca 11

Creating Awareness

Newsletter – 1,812 subscribers

Business Directory 2,400 listings

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Website & Social Media

118 likes

270 followers

176 connections

1,545 unique visits in October

12,088 unique visits in 2012 to date

Business Retention & Expansion

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E‐ Blasts

Small Business Workshops

• Over 100 participants attended

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Workforce Development

Strategy

• Launched November 1, 2012

Employment Land Needs Analysis

Available Land and Buildings in Middlesex County

• Assessment of shovel

ready status of municipal

employment lands

• Recommendations on

enhancing investment

capacity

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Tourism Signage Strategy

• Increasing the number and duration of tourism visits in

Middlesex County

Resident Attraction Workshop

• Responding to requests from Middlesex Municipalities

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• Leverage regional programs – Ontario

Food Cluster (Chicago Mission)

• Build key influencer awareness‐

marketing efforts – ICI realtors, site

selectors, federal & provincial

organizations

• Mission to Detroit Consulate

• Germany

Ontario Food Cluster

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