BRACEBRIDGE BUSINESS RETENTION

1
BRACEBRIDGE BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM

• Community Presentation,
• May 4, 2004

2
Bracebridge BR ELeadership Team

• Steve Meadley, Chair
• Don Coates
• Chuck Horne
• John Crawley
• Suzanne Martineau
• Cheryl Kelley
• Kristy Cairns

• Additional Support
• Christopher Thorpe, Muskoka Community Futures
• Bob Sjonnesen, Ministry of Northern Development
  Mines

3
Bracebridge BR E Objectives

• Increase local business competitiveness
• Assist business development, job creation and
  business retention
• Make our community a better place to live, work
  and play

4
Bracebridge BR E Action Plan Process

• Total of 22 Issues identified from survey
  results.
• Top 10 Issues selected for inclusion in Action
  Plan as immediate priorities.
• Remaining 12 labeled as longer term priorities

5
ACTION PLAN COMPONENTS

• For each issue, the Action Plan
•         Defines the issue,
•         Outlines the action objective,
•         Recommended actions,
•         Identify a leader or champion for the
  action,
•         Define the measure of success,
•         Identify resources required,
•         Recommend a time frame for completion.

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ISSUE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE

• Involve the business community in the Towns
  economic development activities.
• Host a workshop with Council,BR E, Mayors Task
  Force, previous EDC, Strategic Plan Steering
  Committee and Chamber/BIA, to provide input into
  role, structure and expectations of an EDC
• Establish the EDC with a clear role, mandate and
  expectations
• EDC could lead all of the Actions where Town
  identified as the Champion

7
ISSUE - BUSINESS ATTRACTION

• Develop a business attraction strategy
• Develop an Opportunities List for potential new
  businesses/business relocations and business
  attraction
• Develop a strategy and work with mall owners,
  commercial land owners and developers to attract
  these businesses 
• Actively recruit successful retail concepts.

8
ISSUE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN

• Communicate to the business community that the
  Town has an active Strategic Economic Development
  Plan/Increase awareness of the Strategic Plan as
  a business and community priority
• Publish an Executive Summary of the current Plan.
• Produce, publish and circulate an Annual Update
• Host an annual event (e.g. business luncheon)
• Establish a downtown storefront window location
  to communicate activities

9
ISSUE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PROCESS

• Review the development and permit process to
  clarify and expedite approvals within legislative
  constraints - market Bracebridge as Friendly To
  Development.
• Evaluate and document the current processes to
  expedite approvals, eliminate barriers and
  provide a customer friendly service
• ii. In conjunction with others (Public Works,
  Planning Dept. Town of Bracebridge, District of
  Muskoka) develop a one-stop information centre
  that can identify all permit requirements and
  contact numbers for assistance.

10
ISSUE COMMUNITY PROMOTION

• Promotion of Bracebridge as place to do business,
  to visit, and promote the community to the
  community.
• Community Web Page/Community Portal development
  including information such as events, vision,
  statistics, narrative, business opportunities,
  tourism, under serviced sectors etc.
• Ambassador program to travel and represent
  Bracebridge at various events/conferences/trade
  shows
• Marketing Committee complete a competitive review
  and developing a professional Marketing
  Plan/Strategy to include print media, CD/Video,
  on-line components, television.

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ISSUE BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

• Compile and ensure accessibility of information
  about available services that can assist
  businesses in the community.
• Develop a business resource package containing
  general service information and contact
  information from all business service agencies
• Develop links from the Chamber/Town/BIA/CFDC
• Develop a business section within the Towns
  website

12
ISSUE CULTURAL FACILITIES

• Increase cultural infrastructure
• Downtown outdoor theatre to create a signature,
  unique cultural facility specific to Bracebridge.
  Could be an integral part of promotional
  packages. Retail offerings could be linked to
  performances i.e. dinner packages
•  
• Capitalize on the plethora of local talent and
  develop a co-op art gallery in The Heart of
  Muskoka. Locate the gallery in the center of
  Bracebridge within walking distance to the
  Silverbridge Gallery (art cluster) and potential
  new theatre. (Work with/recognize Chapel
  Gallery/Muskoka Arts Crafts Co-op)

13
ISSUE HR BASIC SKILLS

• Better prepare students/employees in the
  workforce.
•  
• Consolidate the results into a format easily
  shared with educational/training agencies.
• i. Develop an understanding of employers needs.
• ii. Educate employees regarding economics of
  continuing education
• iii. Educate students at all levels of the
  economics of staying in school.
• iv. Create a public relations campaign to promote
  the benefits of post-secondary education/training.
  

14
Issue HR CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Instill excellence in customer service in
  Bracebridge
• Establish a community-wide customer service
  accreditation program. All businesses need to be
  involved and committed. Could be accomplished by
  partnering with other communities such as
  Huntsville and Gravenhurst to share costs and
  resources.
• Getting community leaders on board, i.e. largest
  employers with significant tourist interaction

15
ISSUE - RETAIL STORE HOURS

• Encourage the local retail community to work
  together to develop consistent store hours -
  result in increased revenues and reduce retail
  leakage from the community.
• Investigate the viability of creating a Retail
  Association comprised of Bracebridge retailers
• Conduct a survey of local residents as to their
  opinion of retail hours and its impact on
  shopping habits
• Comparison report with other communities
• Inform retailers of the issue and survey results.
  
• Create an awareness campaign touting Bracebridge
  is open for business.

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ADDITIONAL ISSUES

• Development Charges
• Affordable Housing
• Town Hall Move
• Hydro Reliability
• Public Transportation
• HR Skilled Trades
• HR-Computer Training
• Recruitment of Workers
• Business Development Land, Space Expansion

• Business Associations Meeting Business Needs
• Road Maintenance/Street Repair
• Media Portrayal of the Community
• Communication Technologies uncertainty around
  effectiveness or experience in/with

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Town of Bracebridge Resolution
On April 28, 2004, Council Received the Action
Plan Accepted the recommendation by the BR E
Team to  i.    Host a workshop with Council, BR
E Team, Mayors Task Force, previous EDC,
Strategic Plan Steering Committee and
Chamber/BIA, to provide input into the role,
structure and expectations of an EDC by June
30th ii.   Establish an EDC that involves
members of the business community and includes a
clear role, mandate and expectations by September
30th and, iii. To direct the EDC take the lead
on all of the Actions where Town is identified
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Bracebridge BR E Timetable

• BR E Next Steps
• Recruit champions for non Town lead issues prior
  to Final Report.
• Final Report to Council May 31

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Bracebridge BR E Timetable

• QUESTIONS