Rural Economic Development in Ontario. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Regional Economic Development Branch

Transcription

1 Rural Economic Development in Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Regional Economic Development Branch

2 Learning Objectives! Understanding REDB Program Offerings! Profiling OMAFRA s Renewed Rural Economic Development Program! Best Practices for Successful Funding Applications! 2!

3 Our Programs, Services & Resources! Support clients in the planning and implementation of their economic development activities! Programs & Resources! Lower Capacity! Higher Capacity! CED 101 Workshops! Strategic Planning! First Impressions Community Exchange! Community Immigration Retention in Rural Ontario! Regional Advisor Services! Business Retention & Expansion! Economic Development Analysis Resources! Performance Measurement! Downtown Revitalization! Rural Economic Development Program! 3!

4 Common Elements of our Programs! Marketing! Resources! Training! Coaching & Mentoring! 4!

5 CED 101! Workshops are targeted for newly elected municipal officials and staff! Community Economic Development 101 Matrix and Reference Guides available! 5!

6 !!! First Impressions Community Exchange (FICE)! A structured and cost-effective process that reveals the first impression a community conveys to potential visitors, and new residents.!! A partnership with another community where each visits the other and provides feedback of the strengths and challenges found during an exchange visit.! 6!

7 Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E)! BR+E is a community-based economic development program that focuses on supporting existing businesses! It is a systematic approach that assists in better understanding the needs of local businesses! Strategies are developed based on the needs/issues identified by local businesses! 7!

8 ! Downtown Revitalization (DR)! The Downtown Revitalization program supports the implement of comprehensive revitalization initiatives! The four point approach includes:! Economic Development! Leadership and Management! Marketing and Promotion! Physical Improvements! 8!

9 Analyst Tool for Economic Analysis! Accessible web-based tool for economic data! Available for all communities in Ontario! Helps you understand your! region to make! informed decisions! 9!

10 ! Community Immigration Retention in Rural Ontario (CIRRO)! To help rural communities attract and retain skilled newcomers! CIRRO Guidebook provides:! Ideas, methods and tools for! developing strategies! Case studies! Analytical tool that provides! information to help! communities assess their! attractiveness to newcomers! and youth! 10!

11 ! Performance Measurement Resources! Used to assess and illustrate the efficiency and effectiveness of projects, programs and initiatives! It is a process of monitoring, measuring, assessing and reporting on the progress of a plan! It helps inform decision making and improve accountability with a focus on desired outcomes! 11!

12 ! Strategic Planning! Resource to help facilitate the development of strategic plans! 12

13 Document Title! Date!

14 What is the RED Program?! The Rural Economic Development (RED) program provides cost-share funding for projects that remove barriers to community economic development! With the support of the program, rural communities are better positioned to attract investment, create jobs, enhance economic growth and make everyday life easier for rural Ontarians.!! 14!

15 What are the RED Program Outcomes?! The RED program provides funding to help achieve one or more of the following outcomes:! Increased ability to undertake evidence-based planning to identify priorities and measure economic performance! Collaboration for economic growth! Increased economic competitiveness and diversity! Innovative communities! Expansion of markets! Creation and/or retention of jobs! Attraction, development or retention of a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce! Support for provincial government priorities! 15!

16 How has the RED program changed?! The renewed RED program focuses solely on community economic development by providing funding to rural communities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and not-for-profit organizations! Business supports which were under the RED program will be delivered through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund! 16!

17 Who can apply?! RED accepts applications from:! Not-for-profits! Municipalities! Local Services Boards! Ontario Indigenous communities or organizations! Businesses and research institutions are not eligible! Co-applicants are encouraged, and must meet same criteria!! 17!

18 What types of projects are eligible?! RED supports projects in the following categories:!! Planning! 1. Plans and strategies! 2. Applied research and analysis to support planning and priority setting! Implementation! 3. Sector development and economic diversification! 4. Marketing, promotional and branding activities! 5. Workforce attraction, retention and development! 18!

19 What support is available?! Province may provide up to 50% of eligible costs, up to $100,000 in provincial funding! In exceptional circumstances, the province may provide higher level of funding or higher share of eligible costs! Projects receiving other provincial funding are not eligible to apply for or receive funding under the RED program! 19!

20 When are applications due?! Current intake dates are as follows:! January 30 to March 31! July 31 to September 29! Intakes close at 5:00 pm (Eastern)! Future dates and times will be posted on website! 20!

21 Intake dates and times! Guidelines! Applications! Approved projects! 21!

22 22! Example Projects!

23 Reminders! RED is a competitive process! Innovation and use of leading practices is encouraged! Collaboration is important! RED is results-oriented! Projects need to take place in or benefit rural Ontario! 23!

24 Proposal Evaluation - What makes a weak proposal! Project is not well defined! Poor fit with program objectives! No clear objectives & deliverables/outcomes! Lack of financial information, supporting documentation! Costs and project activities not clearly defined! Project budget, expenditure and source of funding numbers do not match or math is incorrect! Unsecured funding! Incomplete application submitted! 24!

25 Proposal Evaluation - What makes a strong proposal! Project objectives and deliverables are clear and measureable! Need for project is evident (and has research to support)! The project is innovative and unique! Outcomes match program objectives! Positive economic impacts! Financially committed partners! Strong letters of support! Request for eligible costs only! Organization has capacity to complete project & reporting requirements!! 25!

26 !!!! Keep current on Rural Economic Development and Agriculture Development with information from REDB! News 26! blog: twitter: Subscribe to our newsletter CONNECTS: website: