2026 Economic Development Strategy Servicers

The Vendor is required to provide the development of a renewed economic development strategy (2027-2031) to guide regional economic growth, workforce and talent development, business retention and expansion, investment attraction, and long-term competitiveness.
- Tasks
1. Situational analysis, economic base assessment
•    Demographics and population trends
•    Labor force and workforce characteristics
•    Industry and sector performance
•    Business climate and investment trends
•    Infrastructure, land availability and transportation assets
•    Competitor and comparator region analysis
•    Department staff resources and budget
•    Analysis and summary of economic development strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
2. Vision and guiding principles
•    A clear long-term vision for the local economy, supported by guiding principles or values that shape decision-making (e.g., sustainability, innovation, and resilience and diversification).
3. Alignment with council priorities and corporate plans
•    The strategy will be aligned with the county's broader strategic objectives and policy directions to ensure consistency, reinforce organizational priorities, and support long-term decision making.
4. Stakeholder engagement
•    Local municipalities
•    Indigenous communities
•    Businesses and industry leaders
•    Developers and investors
•    Sector and trade organizations including industry associations, chambers of commerce, business councils, real estate organizations, professional and trades based groups, and provincial and federal agencies representing key economic sectors in county
•    Educational institutions and workforce development partners
•    The internal economic development team
5. Strategic goals and priority actions
•    The strategy will define goals and measurable priorities for the short and medium term, positioning the county as a leader in economic development. Actions will be designed to drive competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth.
6. Defined roles and responsibilities
•    County economic development office
•    Local municipalities
•    Regional, provincial, and federal partners
•    Post-secondary institutions
•    Industry and business support organizations
•    Other key stakeholders
7. Performance measurement and accountability framework
•    Key performance indicators (KPIS) taking into consideration leading practices used by economic development organizations
•    Methods for tracking and reporting progress and outcomes
8. Implmertaion Plan
•    Goals, objectives and detailed action plan
•    Timelines and milestones
•    Human and financial resource considerations
•    Partnership and funding opportunities
•    Phasing and sequencing of priority actions
9. Monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation process
•    Review progress
•    Update actions as conditions change.