Economic Crisis Response Program

• Province of Canada, 500,000 people• 280 municipalities• No constitutional authority• Revenue is limited• 74% have one or fewer staff• Approximately 50% will have contested

elections• Financial transfers for operations

decreasing• National and provincial subsidies to capital

infrastructure increasing or stable

Context

• Natural resource extraction• Fisheries in decline, centralizing• Oil and gas growing, already centralized• Newsprint and forestry in decline• Emerging sectors based in capital region• Significant number of single industry

communities or sector dependent communities

Context

• Municipalities NL as enabler• Ten years of training and information on

municipal role in economic development• Focus on understanding economic

development processes and municipal role in same

• Workshops, study tours, conferences• Generalist approach• Linking traditional municipal activities and

services to economic development

Context

• Specific need for:• Single industry towns• Towns in crisis• Vulnerable communities

• Council is first point of contact for:• Media• Residents• Support agencies• Higher orders of government

• Yet ill-equipped to manage the situation

Rationale for ECRP

• Target audience:•Vulnerable communities•Responding to crisis•Preparing for possible crisis

• Manage the situation instead of it managing them

• Workshop, reference, guide• Local, regional, sectoral opportunities

Function of ECRP

• Understanding the situation•Three phases of transition•Characteristics of single industry

towns•Patterns of decline•Factors influencing successful

transition•Best practices in transition

management

Format of ECRP

• Tools for management•Leadership•Team building•Using champions•Developing a communications plan•Managing news media•Communicating with the

community

Format of ECRP

• Tools for economic development• Strategic planning• PEST Analysis• SWOT Analysis• Integrated work plans• Consultants• Proposal writing• Opportunity management• Community profiles

Format of ECRP

• Lessons learned•Case studies

• Key contact lists•Government agencies•Non-government agencies•Research and training

Format of ECRP

• Each section has:• Explanation and background• Group discussion questions• Exercises• Handouts• Checklists• References• PowerPoint slides• Samples and templates

Format of ECRP

• CD provided to all municipalities• 500 binders distributed• Website• Workshop• Reference• Facilitator's guide• Five workshops to date• 20 planned for 2010• Interest from other agencies

Delivery of ECRP

Economic Crisis Response Program