Budget Cuts – Will They Affect Local Economic Development?

Some of you may be wondering about the recent federal budget cuts and how they might affect the work that’s going on here at CoRDA.

If you’re wondering what CoRDA does, you can see the Reader’s Digest version of that answer by visiting our website at www.corda.ca

CoRDA sets up small business training, introduces industrial and commercial business site selectors to the people who have it up for sale or lease, develops large and small community events to bring in tourism dollars, markets Truro and Colchester as a growing community to international immigrants and interprovincial migrants, makes their lives better by working with the business community to find demands for their job skills, takes the pulse of local business operators through business retention and expansion visits, promotes regional collaboration among stakeholders and much, much more.

In late-May, the federal government announced that ACOA would no longer be funding these services directly.  If you read between the lines, that could mean CoRDA will have to apply for funding from the federal government on a project by project basis. 

We are currently funded by the local municipalities, the Province of Nova Scotia and Millbrook First Nation, but this news from the federal government does create uncertainty for us.  CoRDA has always been adaptive, and we will be working with our partners to come up with alternatives before next year.

In the community at large, we’re hearing from some of our supporters, and it’s heartening to know that what CoRDA does is valued at many levels.  Among those CoRDA  supporters are Truro Mayor Bill Mills.  Here are the words of Mayor Mills from a recent e-mail he is allowing me to share with you.

“I can truthfully say that CoRDA has met and exceeded a lot of the original expectations that were formulated many years ago!  My expectations for the future will be more of the same… and then some!  CoRDA has provided us with a major catalyst for change in many areas that might not otherwise have gotten off the ground if the municipalities were left to do the work on their own. Those areas include Immigration, Community Economic Development, Youth Projects, Networking and taking the lead on Destination Tourism as well as providing seed money for literally hundreds of events!  Is CoRDA Valuable to our area?  A hundred times yes!!”

Here’s what Mayor Bob Taylor of Colchester County had to say.

“I would echo Mayor Mills comments on CoRDA’s accomplishments and our expectations for the years ahead.  As we enter into the future, we have to adapt to changing times.  It’s a situation where another level of government cuts funding, so we have to review the shortfall.  It’s not easy.  To me, CoRDA is the ideal regional approach to things.  It’s what the County and the two towns worked on together.  By working together, were able to make things happen that wouldn’t have happened on our own.  I’m a great proponent of regional cooperation, and with Millbrook involved, it makes it all the better.  We’ve been able to accomplish a lot by working together through CoRDA. “

We also heard from the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce.

Here’s what Chamber Executive Director Tim Tucker had to say.

“The Chamber has worked with CoRDA extensively on workplace education programs for employers and employees and these have been highly-valuable to everyone involved. Feedback from participants has been extremely positive, and the programs are held in very high regard. We also know that CoRDA’s Newcomer Program serves as a model for every other program in the province, and has been highly successful in attracting and retaining new residents to our region. Many of these new residents bring with them an entrepreneurial spirit that is valuable to the continued success of the Colchester region. “

Regional Development Agencies and Associations such as CoRDA have been delivering the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) project across the province for up to 8 years.  The program has received international recognition and has created 2,379 jobs, retained 4,080 jobs and generated $27.1 million in public investment and $66 million in private investment.

 Our role is not to criticize the way our federal funders manage their budgets, but we have a proud record to stand on, and we’re pleased the community recognizes our success.  Will CoRDA be able to continue providing local economic development to the degree we always have?  Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we believe this region has always had the will.

Alan Johnson is Director of Marketing and Communications for the Colchester Regional Development Association. His column appears in this space each month. He can be reached by using ajohnson@www.corda.ca

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