Nova Scotia Association of

1
Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development
Authorities (NSARDA) Forum of Labor Market
Ministers November 9, 2005
2

• Regional Development Authorities in Nova Scotia
• Mandate
• Partnerships
• Unique Model
• -                

3

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association (CREDA)
• Mandate, Structure Context
• Strategic Priorities
• -             Strategic Planning
  Business Development
• -                 Community Development           
        Information Technology
• -                 Infrastructure
             Human Resource
  Development
• -                 Communication/Marketing

4

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Relevance of Labour Market Information
•  Business Development
• Community Development
• Human Resource Development

5

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
•  Labour Market Initiatives
• -             Skills Inventory Phase I 2003
• -                 Tourism Labour Market
  Assessment 2004
• -                 Skills Inventory Phase II
  2005
• -                 Skills Phase III proposed
  2006/07
• -                 Other Career Resource Centre
  (CRC)

6

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Skills Inventory Phase I Northern Zone Project
• -                 Background Purpose
• -                 Partners (Service Canada,
  ACOA, OED, RDAs)
• -                 Results applications
• -                 Proposed updates

7

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Tourism Labour Market Assessment Fundy Shore
• -             Background Purpose
• -                 Partners (Service Canada
  CREDA)
• -                 Results applications
  (training employment needs)
• -      Results Applications
• -            Relevance to Tourism Destination
  Area
• -               Joggins Fossil Cliffs World
  Heritage Site (Essential Skills Initiative)

8

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Skills Inventory Phase II Cumberland County
• -             Background Purpose
• -                 Partners (Service Canada
  CREDA)
• -                 Other Resources - Steering
  Committee Membership
• -                 Results Applications
• -                 Current Status

9

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Skills Inventory Phase III Cumberland County
• -             Purpose Intent
• -                 Proposed Partners (Service
  Canada, CREDA, other)
• -                 Potential Applications
• -                 Timeline

10

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Other Labour Market Activities Career
  Resource Centre (CRC)
• -            Background Purpose
• -                 Partners (Service Canada, NS
  Community Services, CREDA)
• -                 CRC core activities (Resource,
  Counseling, Workshops)
• -                 Co-located options (CAP Site
  CNSBSC)
• -                 Extended Activities (Outreach,
  Older Worker, Direct Business Liaison)
• -                 Results current status

11

• Cumberland Regional Economic Development
  Association
• Summary Application significance of Labour
  Market Initiatives
• -            Strategic growth development
• -                 Business expansion and
  recruitment
• -                 Training Opportunities (supply
  meeting demand)
• -                 Community Development (e.g.
  Cape Chignecto, Joggins)
• -                 Capacity Building
• -                 Repopulation Strategy
• -                 Other

12

• Business Retention and Expansion Pilot Project
  for rural Nova Scotia
• Overview
• RDAs
• Phases
• Survey Instrument
• Vision
• Western Central RDAs and partners are recognized
  as dynamic and innovative leaders in economic
  development in rural Nova Scotia

13

• BR E Approach
• A formalized and systematic process that gathers
  information from businesses through interviews
  with firm owners
• Serious short-term issues/problems/opportunities
  Red Flags are addressed quickly and
  confidentially on an individual basis
• Longer term, its a planning process for setting
  priorities for business support
  programs/activities

14

• BR E Goals
• Two main goals
• To identify and help alleviate short term (firm
  level) and long term (macro level) problems that
  threaten local businesses
• To identify opportunities that may allow local
  businesses to expand

15

• Why BR E in Nova Scotia?
• Most new jobs in rural Nova Scotia have the
  potential to come from existing businesses
• Many small business owners
• Dont have a direct voice to decision makers
• Dont think their opinion will make a difference
• May think that their problems is unique
• BR E provides a good link between business
  development and community development
• It strengthens the relationship of RDAs with
  their business community and promotes RDA
  recognition

16

• Why BR E in Nova Scotia?..cont
• Compliments existing and new programs
• Brings forward emerging themes in a faster manner
• Good outputs providing baseline data
• Matches our culture of Face to Face relationships
• Strengthens the relationship/partnership with the
  municipalities
• Promotes Public and Private sector partnerships

17

• Partners Return on Investment
• Promotion of a collaborative approach to economic
  development to the business community
• Gathering of on the ground information for policy
  or program development
• Anecdotal supporting the statistical data
• Assists in the identification of opportunities
  for government programs and the business
  community OED, ACOA, NSBI, CNSBSC, CBDC, etc
• More timely identification of emerging themes
  that may threaten the viability of businesses in
  rural Nova Scotia
• BR E linkages to the overall economic strategy
  of organizations Fiscally responsible
  duplication of resources and HR and can assist in
  the development of budgets

18

• Data Collection
• Triangulation approach
• BR E is a systemic way to connect to the needs
  of the business community
• Information collected is not using a statically
  sound methodology. The purpose of BR E is one of
  relationship building and business connection.
  The data is a by-product of outcomes.
• Ability to provide information that can be used
  for various purposes
• All partners have access
• Use of technology

19

• Community Outcomes - Summary
• Investment - Attract new investment to Western
  Central Nova Scotia and encourage expansions of
  existing companies in Western Central Nova Scotia
• Consumption - Increase the number of high quality
  jobs in Western Central Nova Scotia
• Business Confidence - Maintain and grow business
  confidence in Western Central Nova Scotia
• Community Capacity - Improve the communitys
  capacity to respond to growth opportunities
• Western Central RDAs Capacity - Create a dynamic
  and positive work environment and increase
  investor engagement

20

• THANK-YOU
• QUESTIONS ANSWERS
• www.nsarda.ca
• www.creda.net
•