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Golden & District
Economic Development Strategy
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Authored by:
Crane Management Consultants Ltd.
Commissioned by:
Golden & District Economic Development Commission
March 1993
Location of Publication:
"Columbia Basin Trust Collection"
Golden & District Economic Development Commission
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The purpose of this project was
to prepare a strategy with the Golden & District Economic Development
Commission (GDEDC) that would give specific direction, coordination
and goals to economic development activities in the region. Major
objectives included the development of an integrated three year
strategic plan incorporating a thorough economic base analysis,
and marketing, organizational, human resource, and financing strategies,
and an implementation program.
The study includes a review of the
regional economy, an analysis of the economic strengths and weaknesses
of the region, an identification of the general opportunities and
threats facing the local economy, a strategic plan for attaining
development objectives, and a set of pre-feasibility studies of
the best development opportunities in the region. Highlights of
the operations strategy are as follows:
Information
Goal:
Improve the availability of information to the community.
Strategy:
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Regularly update economic
information.
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Provide an information brokering
service to the community. |
Energy
Goal:
Obtain additional or alternative energy supplies for the region.
Strategy:
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Obtain relevant energy-related
information.
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Participate in BC Hydro planning
initiatives.
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Prepare a long-term energy
plan for the region. |
Communication
Goal:
Improve understanding and reduce redundancy among economic development
stakeholders.
Strategy:
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Publish a newsletter.
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Conduct periodic joint planning
workshops with other organizations.
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Coordinate activities with
Community Futures. |
Goal:
Improve communication of economic development issues to young
people.
Strategy:
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Establish Junior Achievement
program
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Prepare outreach programs
between the economic development office and youth.
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Assist and promote career
preparation programs.
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Assist promoting the Young
Entrepreneurs of BC Program. |
Goal:
Improve communications with private sector and major employers
in the region.
Strategy:
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Establish a business visitation
program.
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Undertake a personal contact
and outreach program with existing businesses.
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Participate in plant openings
and anniversaries. |
Goal:
Improve communications with other government agencies and departments.
Strategy:
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Coordinate communications
and activities with other government agencies. |
Goal:
Improve communications with the community.
Strategy:
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Use existing media to conduct
regular and ongoing public communications with a focus on
entrepreneurship. |
Transportation
Goal:
Encourage the completion of the four-laning project by 1995.
Strategy:
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Organize affected business
for lobbying and communication efforts. |
Goal:
Obtain endorsement from the Department of Highways on the engineering
plans for the upgrade of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Strategy:
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Prepare and implement a lobbying
strategy. |
Goal:
Assist in the development of the airport.
Strategy:
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Work with the Town of Golden
to implement recommendations made in the Airport Development
Plan. |
Goal:
Sustain CPR employment levels.
Strategy:
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Assist the Town of Golden
in promoting the community to the CPR for additional facilities. |
Goal:
Reinstate passenger rail service by 1995.
Strategy:
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Collaborate with the Golden
and District Chamber of Commerce in lobbying efforts to have
service restored.
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Investigate the feasibility
of Rocky Mountaineer service to Golden. |
Aboriginal Land
Claims
Goal:
Keep informed on the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council land claim.
Strategy:
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Monitor land claim process
and maintain an information base on the issues. |
Diversification
in Forestry
Goal:
Assist and encourage the establishment of small business enterprises
and value-added manufacture in Golden and District.
Strategy:
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Work with local stakeholders
to resolve wood waste problems.
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Provide opportunity information
and business development support to local small business. |
Goal:
Increase involvement in forestry programs.
Strategy:
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Take necessary steps for approval
and delivery of the Community Forestry Program.
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Encourage more local participation
in silviculture programs.
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Investigate the feasibility
of mounting a demonstration forest in the region. |
Diversification
in Tourism
Goal:
Strengthen tourism organization in the region.
Strategy:
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Enlist membership in professional
tourism organizations.
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Organize a tourism bureau
and prepare regional tourism plan. |
Goal:
Assist existing tourism facilities upgrade, market and expand
their operations.
Strategy:
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Collaborate with the golf
course on their current initiatives.
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Assist Whitetooth in development
efforts.
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Improve Golden's status as
an international para-gliding and hang-gliding centre.
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Assist in promoting and developing
Golden as a snowmobile destination. |
Goal:
Establish new tourism products and services.
Strategy:
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Proceed with business plan
recommendations to establish the Interpretive Centre.
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Promote the development of
more accommodation in Golden.
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Investigate further development
of cross country skiing in Golden. |
Goal:
Improve the quality of local tourism services by assisting to
promote and deliver training programs.
Strategy:
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Collaborate with the Golden
and District Chamber of Commerce to present the Super Host
program.Assist Golden Tourism Action Committee to establish
a professionalising course for hospitality workers. |
Goal:
Assist with the development of parks related opportunities.
Strategy:
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Organize a working committee
for the Yoho/Golden area. |
Goal:
Determine the feasibility of attracting parks-related government
personnel to Golden.
Strategy:
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Monitor organizational changes
at the Canada Parks Service and prepare to lobby the federal
government if the opportunity arises. |
Diversification
in Mining
Goal: Increase mining sector
employment and income in the region.
Strategy:
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Maintain up-to-date information
on mining markets and trends. |
Environment
Goal:
Seek protection for natural assets with environment, social
and cultural values.
Strategy:
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Cooperate with other organizations
in lobbying efforts. |
Infrastructure
Goal:
Improve the quality of life for residents and the attraction
of the town to tourists by promoting the development of infrastructure.
Strategy:
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Promote the development of
the community/recreation centre. |
Land Use
Goal:
To act as a forum for the discussion and development of land
use in Golden and District.
Strategy:
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Coordinate CDEDC interests
with the Town of Golden planning initiatives.
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Facilitate sustainable land
use in the region. |
Promotion
Goal:
Promote and present the region as a preferred community to visit,
live and do business.
Strategy:
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Maintain current promotional
budget levels but redirect resources to more targeted markets.
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Consolidate a marketing plan.
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Prepare a community profile.
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Promote the available opportunity
information.
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Investigate the Business Improvement
Area program. |
Capital
Goal:
Improve the access to capital for local business people as well
as volunteer and non-profit organizations.
Strategy:
Provide information and access to government programs.
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Lobby the Credit Union to
offer commercial financing.
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Attract another financial
institution.
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Investigate the feasibility
of a small business incubator in Golden. |
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