Adopted: August 9, 2004. 
Amended:  May 29, 2006

Contents

Board Goals

Board Action Plan

Board Outcomes

Sub Committees

• Business Retention and Expansion/Marketing and Communications

• Opportunity Identification/Investment Attraction/Community Lifestyles

2004 Economic Development Program Review 

Reference Information

Lacombe must continue to grow so that we can remain a vital community. We desire to increase the non-residential tax base in order to improve the fiscal capacity of the Town.

The Economic Development Board will make a deliberate and organized effort with community involvement to attract, retain and expand all business sectors.

MISSION/GOALS:

The Economic Development Board and economic development services staff,  together with the support of the Town organization generally will undertake the following service priority and general goals for the Lacombe Economic Development Program 

Service Priority Goals

Major Industrial / Commercial  -  Emphasis:  50% of time

1. Develop and redevelop commercial and industrial sites with consideration to the acquisition of future lands and the redevelopment of existing properties in Lacombe (2006)

2. Attract new industrial developments and enable the expansion of existing industry focusing on agricultural, petroleum,  (including bioenergy) and petrochemical sectors (2006)

3. Deleted (2006)

4. Attract businesses that take advantage of transportation infrastructure including highways and railways.

Retail Services  - Emphasis:  35% of time

5. Strengthen and expand existing retail businesses 

6. Attract and retain retail businesses that are compatible with existing and future commercial business districts.  Emphasis should be placed on niche retailers with regional appeal and future "box store" developments. (2006)

7. Deleted (2006)

8. Target retail marketing efforts to Central Alberta Communities  (2006)

Tourism / Promotion / Arts / Culture - Emphasis:  15% of time

9. Support the initiatives of Lacombe Regional Tourism, the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce, the Lacombe Historical Society and other community event organizations with an emphasis on the promotion of the arts and culture. (2006)

10. Promote Lacombe as "Alberta's Sweet Spot", where business and family are close-by and conveniently accessible from the QEII.  (2006)

11. Act as the facilitator of community economic development by forming partnerships and strengthening the network between community stakeholders. (2006)

12. Deleted (2006)

13. Deleted (2006)

Overall and General Operation Goals

14. Advise the Council on economic issues while affecting  the adoption of policies that reflect a strong commitment to a sustainable and open business atmosphere. (2006)

15. Connect developers and investors to the information and resources that will contribute to the success of new business developments in Lacombe. (2006)

16. Identify business opportunities in the community and seek out those who might seize these opportunities

17. Develop and expand the community's economic development abilities through board skill development  and a continuing commitment to education and networking. (2006)

18. Deleted (2006) 

Board Action Plan

1.  Board Membership:
   
   The board will continue to identify community leaders for placement on the board and its committees in 2006 and beyond.  (2006)
   
   The Board will  continue to involve regional stakeholders in committee projects and initiatives.  (2006)

2. Recruiting and Training Members
   
   Board members will play an active role in the recruitment and selection of new board members, seeking representation from key industry sectors within the community.  Board committee members will be encouraged to fill future director's positions.  (2006)
   
   Board members and other community stakeholders will take CED (Community Economic Development training) as coordinated by the Town and Central Alberta Economic Development Partnership.(2006)

3.  Ambassador Program:
   
   The Ambassadors program will be more formally implemented in 2006/07 with consideration being given to a more permanent location in the LCC.  A  committee composed of  active  Ambassadors and EDB members will be struck to elevate the profile of these meetings. (2006)

4. Business Mixers:
   
   The Board will review its role in Chamber of Commerce Business Mixers, with a strategy adopted by October, 2006. (2006)  

5. Tourism:
   
   The Board will support the efforts of the Lacombe Regional Tourism Committee and will provide one member to serve on the  Committee. 

6. EDB Web Site:
   
   The Board will continue to access the EDB website for Board business.  Meeting minutes,  agendas and orientation materials will continue to be posted regularly. (2006)

7. Board Education & Training:
   
   Board members will attend, where possible and as budgetary provisions permit special events hosted by CAEP (Central Alberta Economic Partnership) and other significant economic development educational events and training as offered regionally and provincially. (2006)

8. Re-Accreditation:
   
   The Board will evaluate the  Economic Development Accreditation process and determine the alternatives to accreditation by the end of 2007.  (2006)

9. Board Sub Committees:
    

   The Board will continue to operate the following standing committees (and corresponding sub-committees and ad hoc committees):

    

   1. BOA (Business Opportunities and Attraction) (2006)

1. Post-Secondary Opportunities Initiative
2. Ambassadors Program

2. BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) (2006)

1. AG Talk  
2. Loyalty Shopping Program

10. Sharing Community Resources: 

The Board will compare community economic development structures and recommend options for Council's consideration by September 2006  (2006)

Board Outcomes

The Board will annually review Performance Measurements in each of the sub group categories.  The Board will be successful in its activities if: 

1. Level of Activity

1. A Training and Orientation Manual is developed

2. Board Members are recruited and trained 

3. The Board holds 10 meetings per year

4. At least 2 primary subcommittees are activated to take specified roles and responsibilities

5. The Board is able to participate in and cooperate with other organizations in promoting economic development within the community. 

6. The Ambassador program is continued and public recognition and activity is delivered as part of events staged by others. 

7. The Board undertakes an annual review and update of the Economic Development Plan, assessing the effectiveness of implementation of previous year's goals, establishing new goals and objectives and setting out strategies for implementation. 
   

2. Level of Effectiveness

1. The Board continues to believe that the efforts of the Board contribute to accomplishing the economic development objectives of the Town and that the economic development program continues to affect in a positive manner the economic development of the community. 

2. Members of Board individually continue to believe that their efforts on the Board assist  in accomplishing the economic development objectives of the Board
   

3. Awareness of activities, issues and "happenings" related to or affecting economic development in the community. 

1. The Board receives timely reports:

• on development permits issued and building activity
• on subdivision and land development activity and approvals 
• on business licenses issued including new, renewed and lapsed licenses by type
• on outcomes and matters raised at conferences, seminars or  meetings attended by members of the Board 
• of matters raised in Council concerning economic development
• of matters raised in other local organizations concerning economic development
• from Board members on other local matters and issues

2. Members of the Board:

•  inform themselves and remain aware of issues, trends and developments within the local community and wider economic development environment and 
• actively seek out economic development prospects and refer these for followup.        

4. Industrial/Commercial Land Sales

1. 10 acres of the Town's industrial land is sold each per year. 

2. There is an increase in the ratio of non-residential property assessment to total property assessment related to new assessment

5. Board Membership and New Member Training

1. Full Board membership is achieved by the beginning of 2005 and maintained, subject to expected temporary vacancies and membership transitions.

2. New members receive the orientation manual and commence the basic level of economic development course within one year of appointment 

3. Members will maintain training to the level required for continued accreditation

4. Most members take further training in specific areas. 
   

6. Re-Accreditation

The Town remains an Accredited Economic Development Community without lapse. 

7. Web Site

1. The Economic Development section of the Town's web site remains current with easy links to business directories and search engines

2. Businesses in the community take responsibility to continue enter and update business information in the directory data bases. 

3. Economic development information relating to the Town and community on external websites remains current

2004 Economic Development Program Review 

In May 2004, Council directed that review be undertaken of the effectiveness of the current Lacombe Economic Development Program and that recommendations be provided as to

•  the Town's objectives in economic development,
•  the most effective approach to achieving these objectives,
•  ways by which the economic development program can complement and assist with other community initiatives such as tourism and promotion, and
•  the administrative and financial resources required.

The Committee report and all recommendations were accepted by Council, however the consideration of recommendation # 11, respecting additional staff resources to the Economic Development Program, will be delayed at least until the 2006 Financial Plan and Budget.

Reference Information