HomeMy WebLinkAboutADM-07-02
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REPORT
ADMINISTRATION
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: November 4, 2002
File #: /)/10 .
(;m-fc19'-O 2-
By-law #:
Report #: ADM 07-02
Subject:
Business Retention and Expansion Program
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfUlly recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report ADM 07-02 be received.
2. THAT Council approve an expenditure of $3,750.00 as the Municipality's 50%
contribution toward the purchase of the Business Retention and Expansion Program kit
and that the said funds be drawn from Industrial/Economic Development Reserve Fund
Account 1110-163-X.
3. THAT the Clarington Board of Trade be advised of Council's decision.
Submitted by: U ~ -:... ~
Franklin Wu
Chief Administrative Officer
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-5717
1401
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REPORT NO.: ADM 07-02
PAGE 2
REPORT
1.1 The Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, introduced a
pilot program in 1998 known as the Business Retention and Expansion Program
(BR&E). BR&E is a community-based volunteer driven economic tool that encourages
the growth and stability of local businesses. This approach is based on the fact that
most new jobs come from existing businesses and therefore a welcoming business
environment is essential. The BR&E program is a helpful tool to enable local
communities to create job and economic prosperity by identifying both the barriers to
survival as well as expansion opportunities facing local businesses.
1.2 According to the Ministry officials, the results of the BR&E pilot projects have been
encouraging. The Manager of Business Development of the Clarington Board of Trade,
in conjunction with the Municipality's officials, have presented an overview of the
program to the Board which suggested that it would be worthwhile for the Board to take
advantage of the program to further its primary objective of business retention and
expansion.
1.3 The implementation of the Program involves the following 4 stages:
Staqe One: Proiect Planninq and Business Visits
Introducing BR&E to the Community
Leadership team and Task Force Recruitment and Orientation
Project Design
- Volunteer Visit Recruitment and Training
- Business Visits
- Review Completed Surveys for "red-flag" issues
Staqe 2: Immediate Follow-Uc
- Immediate action on the "Red Flag" issues
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REPORT NO.: ADM 07-02
PAGE 3
Staqe 3: Data Analvsis and Recommendations
Data Entry
- Analysis of Survey Responses
- Task Force Retreat
Staqe 4: Public Meetinqs and Implementation
Initial Public Meeting to Present Findings and Recommendations
- Committees to Implement the Recommended Action Plans
Implementation of Action Plans
- Monitoring the Progress of the Implementation Strategy
Follow up with Public Meetings
1.4 In order to implement the program. a Program Kit costing $7,500.00 is required to be
purchased from the Ministry. Due to limited financial resources, the Board requested
the Municipality to cover 50% of the cost of the kit.
1.5 Business Retention and Expansion is a major responsibility assigned to the Clarington
Board of Trade under the current agreement with the Municipality. On an annual basis,
the Municipality provided $75,000.00 to the Board to defray its administrative and
operational expenses. This municipality funding does not contemplate the undertaking
of special projects such as the BR&E program. This program is of obvious benefit to
the Municipality and would definitely assist the Board to fulfill its mandate of business
retention and expansion. As a result it is recommended the Municipality provide 50%
funding the Board to acquire the Program Kit.
140.5