Eastern hrm –strategic planning 2014
Potential Public Sector Investments in Eastern HRM
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- Economic Development Committee, Sheet Harbour - November 21, 2012
Potential Public Sector Investments in Eastern HRMPrepared by Gordon Hammond, February 18 2014 1. Situational Analysis The findings of the recently released Ivaney Commission report “Now or Never”, authoritatively document Province-wide what we see occurring within eastern HRM: • Population younger and growing, closer to Halifax, older and declining as you move east1 • Higher unemployment and lower participation rates the further east you go • Continued decline of the tourism industry (room nights, occupancy, NS museum attendance) • Catchment area for Metro extends to about Lake Charlotte, east of here decline in daily traffic • Public transit essentially non-existent east of Porters Lake • Cost of fuel leading to less demand for commuter housing and thus decrease in property prices • Businesses closing (Webbers Store, Sea Rover Marine, Rosborough Boats etc.) • Intermittent cell phone coverage beyond Musquodoboit Harbour • Etc. (Read the Ivaney report for full details
• Unemployment in outer suburbs and semi-rural is about 5%, less than half provincial average • Lobster fishery seems to be doing well, both harvesters and wholesalers • Forestry may have stabilized but with no more than 100 employees in the area • Gold mining operation in Port Dufferin underway and hiring • OPA French immersion better than average • Sheet Harbour revitalization underway • Some local private sector growth (Taylor Lumber, Darr Welding, Stat, Atlantex etc.) • Memory Lane paid attendance continues to grow (up 23% in 2012), now 5000+ per year • Bay of Islands as potential major tourism destination now on the radar. 2. Prioritized Investments In assessing what public sector investments in Eastern HRM should be made, I have taken into account two primary considerations: a) Investments which are more likely to sustainably grow the areas’s economy are high in priority b) Conceptually, there are three areas with different needs, ie outer suburbs, semi-rural, rural i) Ensure there is full cellphone coverage 20kms either side of the #7 highway between Musquodoboit Harbour and Sherbrooke. ii) Ensure that there is high-speed internet service 20kms either side of the #7 highway between Musquodoboit Harbour and Ecum Secum. iii) Identify and secure funding to implement the ACOA “Strategic Tourism Expansion Program” to prepare a Sustainable Tourism Plan for the Bay of Islands. iv) Pilot project for a year a Metro transit commuter bus leaving Lake Charlotte at 6.00 am and leaving Metro at 5pm v) Secure funding to assess the pros, cons and cost of extending the 107 to Jeddore/Lake Charlotte, and possibly beyond vi) Secure funding to plan and install publically accessible internet-based Visitor Information Kiosks located in the ATM areas of the banks in Porters Lake, Musquodoboit Harbour and Sheet Harbour. Economic Development Committee, Sheet Harbour - November 21, 2012Members Present: Marike Findlay, Jeff Hogg, Dawn Howe Power, Sandy Moser, Robyn Webb, Virginia Bonn, George Carmichael Meeting 10 am – 1:00 pm. Sandy is to email Marike a list of members (names and email) for Dropbox connection which has the Ekistics Plan. Reply for part time person - Robyn replied that Greater Halifax Partnership do not have a person available to us. She read a letter from her boss– Ruth Cunningham. The letter did state that the GHP were very willing to work with our Chamber committee to help develop our economic development and to help organize funding/resources. This could work through the Eastern Shore Task Force. This task force could develop a marketing strategy for the Eastern Shore as well as work on projects for individual areas. Discussion of topics were; Robyn on the topic of Gordon Hammond’s proposal – We are not ready for a proposal yet. We need to get the communities together and see what the needs are. There are monies available from different agencies to help us. We need to see the whole plan for the Eastern Shore. The Greater Halifax Partnership have agreed to be the lead organization for this task force. Discussion of public forum - There was discussion about asset mapping which needs to be part of a backgrounder exercise that a consultant or project manager could do. The Ekistics plan can be used for part of this backgrounder exercise. We also need to ask our communities what our area needs. There was discussion of needing to know how to write grants. We need to have a backgrounder plan such as Bowwater Mersey. We would have to hire a Project manager or consultant. We would need to include the terms of reference. Marike mentioned Rita Fraser as a person who might be seconded from the provincial government to help in this process. She was part of the process for the Bowater Mersey strategy. George mentioned that there could be monies from the provincial community economic development project (CED) to help us. March might be a good time to have the community forum. George mentioned that we will need a facilitator or moderator for this public forum. Robyn will do some background info and we will be having another task force meeting in December. Marike stated that the Chamber feels that we are ready for planning the multipurpose centre which will attach to the new school which is the second phase of the Ekistics plan. The first phase was building the sidewalks. There may be funding from the federal government for the multipurpose centre. Virginia feels we need to bring in the province for funding. There is also a need for municipal money. There was discussion about paving the Wharf road. Virginia mentioned that she could talk to Northern Fibre and then discuss with Peter Hackett from Dept. of Transportation, Infrastructure and Renewal. The topic of a marina was brought up, but it was felt that more infrastructure is needed before a marina can be built. George mentioned that at the next meeting we should have a person from tourism attend our meetings. It was felt that tourism is a key industry for the Eastern Shore. We discussed assets such as the islands for kayaking, Taylor Head Park for hiking. Perhaps a destination aquaculture tasting tour along with other events. We discussed the negative impact of fish farms to the pristine shore. Other events could take place such as arts and craft events, biking tours, bird watching, and any event that could utilize our pristine environment. We need to promote the industries that are here on the Shore such as Coastal Adventures (kayaking), and the oyster and mussel farms. We also discussed heritage, arts and culture and how this department could be utilized. Marike mentioned the BC -marine parks system that we could use as a model. Robyn will be planning the next step for our task force meeting in December. There was a lengthy discussion about resources and agencies that might be able to help with our economic development. Submitted by Sandy Moser Directory: site -> media site -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose site -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations site -> Physical custody of 1033 program property accountibility form statement of Physical Custody: By signing for the below 1033 property I am a Law Enforcement Officer of the aforementioned Law Enforcement Agency site -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program site -> Memorandum of agreement media -> Goal: This links to a page with the three paragraphs that are already used on the home page media -> Places of Worship, Prayer and Practice At or near the Mount Peace Room Evaristus C410 media -> Msvu career Services Download 302.03 Kb. Share with your friends:
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