102A - Economic Development and Planning: Enemies No Longer?

October 06, 2021

10:15AM - 10:45AM

Municipal economic development officials need not be worried about planners scaring away development, while planners can be less compulsive about our precious planning policies. The two offer a ying and a yang and have a lot to learn from each other.
 
This session focuses on the ongoing collaboration between the economic development and planning departments to meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors in Grey County. Although the two professions can have different goals or viewpoints, success is best achieved through working together.
 
The session provides brief examples of collaboration on the following topics:
          Transforming a former school site into a regional skills and innovation hub;
          Youth retention;
          Community improvement plans;
          Newcomer attraction and becoming a welcoming community to new Canadians;
          Addressing labour pool and housing shortages;
          Data sharing and growth management efforts;
          Community engagement;
          Agricultural food system planning, mapping, and education;
          On-farm business growth and promotion; and  
          Investment readiness.
 
In building a relationship between the two departments, each has had to understand their respective mandates and policy/legislative frameworks. To avoid negative perceptions such as “over-promising” on investment opportunities or planning “holding up” development, the two departments are in constant communication to ensure streamlined efforts. Ultimately, working together has resulted in better outcomes for both departments and is beneficial to both businesses and residents alike.

Speakers