Overview

What is Community Economic Development?

It is anything and everything the community deems to be a priority, including:

  • Diversification of the local environment;
  • Reduction of economic vulnerability;
  • Aiding in the creation of a climate for competitiveness in the global economy;
  • Improving existing infrastructure;
  • Reducing the out migration of youth by stimulating job creation in the community;
  • Enhancing the investment and entrepreneurial environment; and,
  • Building capacity within the community by developing people and organizations capable of managing change.

What are the Key Components of Successful Community Economic Development?

  • Recognition of the key role of volunteers in many of the organizations.
  • Sustainability and Stewardship -- Sound resource management and environmental protection.
  • Strategic Planning -- A guide for development efforts.
  • Business-like Attitudes -- Recognize the importance of market-driven enterprises, profitability, and long-term viability.
  • Entrepreneurial Attitudes -- The private sector is the main engine of real economic growth.
  • Enabling transformations to a knowledge-based economy -- To remain viable in the new economies, industries must become knowledge-based and innovative.
  • Human Resource Development -- Education and training must be consistent with the strategic economic plan of the community.
  • Modern Telecommunications-- Modern communications tools (including access to the internet) enable people to become knowledgeable and well informed about new economic activities.
  • Global Outlook --"think globally and act locally."
  • Partnerships -- The key is partnerships among communities, agencies, government, and business.
  • Commitment from Government-- Rather than being regulators and deliverers of programs and services encourage government officials and agencies to play a developmental and supportive role in community-based initiatives.

Community Futures a non-profit organization guided by a volunteer board of directors and staffed with business professionals, who together are actively engaged in helping to develop and implement community-based economic development strategies.

Community Futures Stuart Nechako is also a:

  • User-friendly business development centre that controls and manages investment funds from which they make fully repayable loans of up to a maximum of $150,000 to community members who are interested in starting or expanding their businesses;
  • Entrepreneurial development centre that provides one-on-one business training to assist individuals who are interested in self-employment or in expanding their businesses; and,
  • Proactive, progressive thinking, community-oriented organization dedicated to strengthening the community's entrepreneurs and economy as a whole.

Community Futures Stuart Nechako can assist with:


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