The County of Simcoe is taking action to spur economic growth across the region.
With a comprehensive economic development and tourism strategy approved by council this year, the Economic Development Office will work with the 16 local municipalities, the cities of Barrie and Orillia, and other business service providers, to help our communities thrive and grow. One goal is to showcase the county to the world, and highlight the significant and unique benefits of the region as a location for new investment.
Council’s 10-year economic development and tourism strategic plan was developed through an extensive process that invited public input.
Roundtable sessions were held in Alliston, Stayner, Midland and Severn Township, with community and business-based economic and tourism stakeholders. Consultants also conducted a series of one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders. An online survey process was developed and hosted on the county's website, and an e-mail link to the survey was sent to chambers of commerce and boards of trade.
In early 2011, consultants hired by the County held interviews with mayors, deputy mayors and chief administrative officers of our partner municipalities, in order to gather input directly from each, on behalf of their specific jurisdictions.
By the time the process was completed, 250 individuals had provided input into the development of our new strategy. Based upon the research and community consultation process, several key themes emerged, for which the consultants provided economic development and tourism recommendations.
These major themes include:
• Create a value proposition for regional economic development cooperation.
• Provide compelling and co-ordinated marketing and promotional efforts for the county.
• Advocate on behalf of regional priorities.
• Capitalize on post-secondary institutions to support regional innovation, education and workforce development.
• Provide strategic support to small and mediumsized enterprises.
• Foster a health services and medical technologies cluster in the county.
• Support growth in regional tourism, agri-tourism and cultural development.
The strategy also includes specific goals that the county's efforts should always be striving to achieve. One of the key platforms of the strategy is to work closely with post-secondary institutions, government agencies and the business community, to try and find new ways to grow commerce in the county. The strategy is a road map that identifies strategic directions and builds off of existing strengths, as well identifying new and emerging opportunities on which to base the future prosperity of the county.
The insights we have gained from business and community stakeholders will be of tremendous value as we move forward, and will assist the county in developing a foundation for economic growth over the coming years. As always, council will continue to build strong partnerships in our communities, because we are all in this together. We know that we can go further, and realize greater success, when we work together.
When community partnerships come together, that’s when we can realize strong economic growth, create jobs for residents and build prosperous communities.
