Economic Development Action Plan

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Consultation has concluded

The Purpose of the Plan
The Economic Development Action Plan is intended to help guide Collingwood’s economic development activities and priorities for five year periods, with a focus on those action items over which the Town of Collingwood has direct control.

Developing the Next Plan
The Town of Collingwood’s vision is to offer a healthy, affordable, four-season lifestyle to all residents, businesses, and visitors. The Community Based Strategic Plan sets a vision for Collingwood as a vibrant, healthy community where people want to live and work. Funding the services to make this lifestyle possible requires a diversified local economic base

The Purpose of the Plan
The Economic Development Action Plan is intended to help guide Collingwood’s economic development activities and priorities for five year periods, with a focus on those action items over which the Town of Collingwood has direct control.

Developing the Next Plan
The Town of Collingwood’s vision is to offer a healthy, affordable, four-season lifestyle to all residents, businesses, and visitors. The Community Based Strategic Plan sets a vision for Collingwood as a vibrant, healthy community where people want to live and work. Funding the services to make this lifestyle possible requires a diversified local economic base that is attractive to a variety of businesses, industries, as well as entrepreneurs.

That’s why the Town has started working on its next Economic Development Action Plan. This plan will define the areas of focus for the Town and its partners, complimenting the broader Community Based Strategic Plan. Developing the next Economic Development Action Plan is a major project. The Town has as a result hired strategic consultants to help guide the process and act as quality control. The approach they have recommended is one that engages local business leaders and the broader business community.

Why do we need to develop an Economic Development Action Plan?
To diversify the tax base. This allows the municipality to fund the services that make Collingwood an attractive place to live and work.

What are the deliverables of this plan?
The project mandate focuses on producing an Economic Development Action Plan that will market & sell Collingwood to investors & employers. The plan, when completed, will include:

  • Evidenced-based analysis of strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats and key strategic takeaways
  • A validated vision for ‘why’ invest in Collingwood
  • A clear set of measurable objectives and the system for measuring them
  • A set of validated strategies and tactics through qualitative and/or quantitative public consultations
  • A prioritized, simple action plan, required human & financial resources

How will the plan get developed?
The framework for this project involves:

  • A strategic facilitator to guide the process and quality
  • A business “advisory team” of experts to draft a plan
  • Staff to source evidence for corroborating the plan
  • Engagement with the business community to validate the plan
  • Staff collaboration with strategic facilitator to write the report

When will it get developed?
The project has already started with the hiring of the strategic consultant and collection of background information. Plan development and business community engagement will continue into the new year, so that it can be approved by Council in early 2020.

Who will develop the plan?
The Mayor’s Advisory Team on Economic Development is being created to draft the plan along with Staff and the strategic consultant. We are currently seeking experienced business leaders who are connected to Collingwood to sit on this Advisory Team.

  • The team of 12-15 business experts will bring a diverse perspective to two full-day work sessions in Collingwood on November 25 and 26.
  • The people who will be selected for this Advisory Team need to be actively involved in operating, investing in and/or hold a senior position in on or several areas of expertise to ensure diversity of thought leadership.
  • Prior to the 2 day work session the strategic consultant will meet with them to better understand their ideas and perspectives.

Will the broader business community be able to get involved?
Yes. There will be several ways to get involved including;

  • sharing ideas and perspectives this fall through Engage Collingwood, a portal for soliciting feedback on projects like this.
  • attending the presentation of the draft plan to Council early in 2020
  • participating in a public engagement forum to discuss the draft plan

How can I get involved in developing the next plan?

  • Keep watching www.collingwood.ca for updates on the various events and surveys.
  • Thank you to all who applied to join the Mayor’s Advisory Team on Economic Development (deadline for applications was Tuesday, October 8, 2019). Stay tuned for updates on the Mayor’s Advisory Team on Economic Development.
Consultation has concluded
  • Economic Development Action Plan Approved

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    On November 23, 2020, Council approved a new 5-year Economic Development Action Plan. This bold new plan presents a focused program to guide the Town’s efforts through a critical economic transition point. The 20 action item plan incorporates insights from the last 5-year plan, the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, the recent Tourism Strategy & Action Plan, feedback from the broader business community, as well as the Mayor’s Advisory Team on Economic Development.


    A 4-page overview is available here.

  • Economic Development Action Plan Update

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    The Mayor and Town staff have been working closely with the business community to draft a new 5 year Economic Development Action Plan. It's part of the broader Community-based Strategic Plan (CBSP).

    It's a bold new plan that promises a new level of economic development focus. It's mission, goals, objectives and metrics are overviewed in this 4-page brochure.

    Business leaders and other community members can read the plan overview and provide their comments and feedback online here. Online feedback is open until Monday, April 6.​​​

    Learn more about the Economic Development Action Plan initiative

  • Mayor’s Advisory Team on Economic Development Announced

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    At the Monday, November 18 Development & Operations Standing Committee Meeting, Mayor Brian Saunderson announced the members of the Mayor's Advisory Team on Economic Development. This Advisory Team will help draft the new Economic Development Action Plan along with Town Staff and a strategic consultant.

    The Town received excellent applications for the Mayor's Advisory Team on Economic Development, and the 12 business leaders selected bring experience ranging from multinationals to local entrepreneurs, technology to tourism sectors, finance to HR, and marketing skills. Key considerations in the selection process focused on ensuring a diversity of skillsets, expertise, experience, and perspectives on economic development.

    The Mayor's Advisory Team on Economic Development will be:

    · Paola Accettola

    · Anthony Griffiths

    · Bruce Harbinson

    · Brandon Houston

    · Chris Jordan

    · Dave Maney

    · Johnathan Smeh

    · Tony Smith

    · Andrew Stuart

    · Shelby Taylor

    · Foster Williams

    · Gillian Fairley


    These business leaders will gather and bring forward ideas at an upcoming workshop to ensure Collingwood has a bright economic future. Their ideas will be one of the cornerstone inputs into the new Economic Development Action Plan that Staff is working on.

    “These business leaders have a passion for Collingwood’s economic and business growth and will help guide the next 5 year Economic Development Action Plan,” commented Mayor Brian Saunderson, “The Action Plan will help established businesses grow, attract investors, employers, and entrepreneurs, and will ensure the right conditions exist for the new wave of businesses coming to, and growing in, Collingwood.”

    The new Economic Development Action Plan will also diversify the tax base, allowing the municipality to fund the services that make Collingwood an attractive place to live and work.

    There will be several additional opportunities for the business community to provide input and share their ideas about economic development and increasing Collingwood's investment attractiveness. An Economic Development survey is available on ​​Engage Collingwood until Wednesday, December 18.

    Learn more about the Economic Development Action Plan initiative on Engage Collingwood at engage.collingwood.ca