Title
2014-2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan and Employment and Industrial Land Strategy
Proposed Motion(s)
1. That Council receive the Employment and Industrial Land Strategy as information
2. That Council receive the 2014 -2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan as information
3. That Council direct administration to implement the recommendations in the 2014 - 2018 Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan, and the Employment and Industrial Land Strategy, through the annual Business Planning and Budget approval process.
Body
Administration Recommendation(s)
Administration supports the reccomendation to recieve the strategic plans as information, and that adminstration will implement the 2014-2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan and Employment and Industrial Land Strategy. The Strategic Plan and the Land Strategy will be implemented as part of the Business Planning and Budget process, and will inform documents such as the Acheson ASP, Parkland MDP, and the Land Use Bylaw. EDTAC will also be an important part of implementing the two documents.
Purpose
The 2014-2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan by Millier Dickinson Blais is an update of Parkland's 2009 Economic Development and Tourism Strategy, that aims to optimize the County's Economic Development capacity by prioritizing growth opportunities and supporting them with clear action plans. Parkland County has also retained the services of Millier Dickinson Blais (MDB), in association with Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. to prepare an Employment and Industrial Lands Strategy for the County. The Employment and Industrial Land Strategy provides a long term vision for likely levels and characteristics (by sector) of industrial and employment land demand in the County.
Summary
In Spring of 2014, Millier Dickinson Blais (MDB) was selected to complete both the 2014-2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan as well as the Employment and Industrial Land Strategy. Over the Spring and Summer months, The Economic Development & Tourism team worked with MDB to ensure they received the appropriate background information and studies prior to engaging our business community and county committees. MDB was in Parkland County from May 26th -28th to conduct Focus group sessions with various stakeholders including; Council, Administration, EDTAC, Acheson businesses, Entwistle businesses & TransAlta. The information and feedback they collected at the sessions was used to develop both strategies. MDB presented an interim report to EDTAC & Council at the beginning of September, and we are now bringing the final 2014-2018 Economic Development & Tourism Strategic Plan and Employment and Industrial Land Study forward to Council
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications (As Required)
Parkland County's overall Strategic Plan for 2014-2018 describes the four-year committment and 20 year visionary goals to residents in six areas: Agriculture, Community, Economy, Environment, Governance and Infrastructure.
As described in the Strategic Plan, Economy is more than economic development -it also takes into account diverse populations,values, history, geography, natural resources and much more. Parkland County recognizes that shifts, from local to global, are impacting the viability of our local economies, including our organization, our residents, and our commercial, industrial and tourism sectors. We are actively investing in new, differentiating economic infrastructure to support our unique community, and we are actively working to attract and retain businesses that complement our vision.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $75,000 is propsed in the 2015 budget to implement the Economic Development & Tourism Strategy, The Employment and Industrial Land Strategy will be implemented through such documents as the Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan, the Municipal Development Plan, Acheson Industrial ASP, and the Land Use Bylaw.
Source of Funding: Economic Development & Tourism Budget
Other (As Required)
N/A