EDC Presentation to McKellar Council February 17th 2015

“Embrace the Future While Respecting the Past”

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Moffat’s Store

Economic Development

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The EDC is using the definition of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT to be; “sustained concerted actions that promote the standard of living and economic health in McKellar Township, the quantitative and qualitative changes in the economy. Such actions involve multiple areas including development of human capital, critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, health, safety, literacy and other initiatives.”

The Economic Development Committee of the Township of McKellar has been formed by Council to advise Council on matters, issues and policies pertaining to tourism and economic development in order to sustain and enhance the Township’s economic base, promote and develop alliances and partnerships between individuals, businesses, organizations and government to advance the Township’s Economic Development Strategic Plan and develop and implement programs and projects in the Township in order to sustain and enhance the Township’s economic base.1 1 Terms of Reference for Economic Development Committee.

Why Economic Development?

• To maintain independence and enhance vibrancy within the township

• To arrest the steady decline of area businesses and strengthen what is here

• Provide a reason for people to come to McKellar as a destination

• New and expanded business opportunities bring in more tax revenue which actually would enable an overall decrease in property taxes

• Provide jobs and services to all residents

• Create a strong united community

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Angst Store 1 Angst Store 2 Fletcher’s Store

4 yr., 10yr., or 20yr. Strategic Plan

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• Municipal sustainable community plans or strategies typically meet a series of milestones throughout the planning process. These milestones include:

1. Establishing a sustainable vision

2. Analyzing the current situation

3. Reporting on the initiative

4. Consulting with the public and stakeholders

5. Obtaining municipal council approval

6. Developing sustainability goals and targets

7. Developing an implementation plan

Council of 2014 ~ 2018 Establishes McKellar’s First

in house Long Term Strategic Plan as their Legacy

Fall 2015

Council of 2018 ~ 2022 Can adopt or modify the

Strategic Plan responding to changing

needs and economic considerations

Implementation of projects defined within the term

2015 ~ 2018 2018 ~~~~

Why a Strategic Plan?

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• Clarify our future direction

• Generate support, buy-in and teamwork

• Know what to do today to effect tomorrow, long term planning

• Save $ with efficient planning, not reinventing the wheel each term

• Ongoing research provides knowledgeable governing

• Improve the probabilities of success

• The plan in itself will facilitate the opportunity to attract new Business – Have plan in place for investors and entrepreneurs considering the area. They know what services and

resources will be available when a long term development is being considered. A condensed version of the plan should be available on the website as well as a Brochure should be printed.

– Prospective Business can evaluate the seasonal and year round demographics of McKellar when considering the area

• The plan in itself will facilitate the opportunity to get Grant monies – Enable plans to be made for funding

– Are in a ready position when government programs opened/made available with tight/short time frames or windows of opportunity. The research and partnering will have been done showing the ability and dedication of the Township when applying for funding.

• Will comply with the Provincial Policy Statement 2014 which is the yardstick that all Official Plans are measured against

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• Available work force/skills

• Trends with customers

• Seasonal and year round populations

• Long term predictions

We need to Create the Environment and Tools to Encourage Investment

Year 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

Population extrapolated 879 939 933 1080 1144 1196 1263

Population Cole data 879 939 933 1080 1144 1265 1403

Population Seasonal 2162 2300 2346

Total During the Summer 3306 3565 3749

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

Populationextrapolated

PopulationCole data

PopulationSeasonal

Total Duringthe Summer

Year Round population is factored by 319’s seasonal becoming 313’s year

round 313’s back to 319’s Snowbirds

Key Projects in the new Strategic Plan “Destination McKellar”

a) Improvements to Minerva Park – A year round toilet facility

– An information kiosk

– A permanent picnic pavilion

– An historic band shell / gazebo

– The completion of the walking bridge

– A boat launch

– Public beach moved into the park

– Extra parking

– Bike Friendly Zone

– Park Benches, “8-80 Communities “

– Plantings

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The village of McKellar is a crossroads in the township. The major roads, bike trails, snowmobile trails, waterways, services and governing facilities all create a hub from which to start the current plan, of making the township a destination.

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Pavilion Plans

1 square = 2ft x 2ft

Key Projects….

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b) Trails – Development of a hub connecting villages via multi use trails

– Development and support of Ontario by Bike and Active Transportation Bike Map

– Waterways, chart canoe and kayak routes

– Development of snowmobile staging area and hub starting area

c) Façade development and improvement – Beautification and attractiveness projects

– Support and plan around an historic theme

– Implement a shared façade improvement program for township businesses

d) Historic sites – McKellar Minerva Park

– Hurdville Old Schoolhouse

– Broadbent St. Stephens Church

– Center Road/Hurdville Hemlock Church

e) Developing area projects to enhance economic development – Working in co-operation with the seven area councils to connect our area projects ie. Trails and

Smart Community

Key Projects….

f) Creating new opportunities for commercial space development – The Village Fire Hall

• Is in need of replacement, upgrading and repair

• Reserves have been allocated annually for this eventuality

– The McKellar Township Roads Yard

• Needs upgrading and renovating to meet new government Public Building requirements

• Government is making available Brownfield grants to clean potential environmental risk areas within municipalities

– Combining the Two Facilities

• Cuts annual maintenance budget in two with only one building

• Frees needed prime retail property for private entrepreneurs

• Enables potential basic services somewhere to locate, which in turn supports the destination concept ie; year round restaurant, gas, small shops, snow mobile staging, etc.

• Frees fire hall property for commercial development potential, for light manufacturing, or a couple of seniors’ apartments

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Committees of Council

• Each committee plays a significant role in Economic Development within the township. They each enhance the quality of life for all residents as well as provide varied opportunities for McKellar Township to become a destination

– Historic Committee

• Displays, events, tours, museum, restoring and maintaining historic landmarks

– Recreational Committee

• Ongoing programing, sports, special events…..

• In order for a community to work together, it must play together

– EDC Committee

• Working to develop and implement the Township’s Strategic Plan

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ED Projects - Projected Time Frame

• Immediate: 1 year – Minerva Park- walking bridge, pavilion

– Committees of Council

– Signage Maps and labels, unified identity throughout township and villages

– Parking, snow mobile staging

– Park benches and bike racks

– Plantings

– Façade program for proposed commercial new builds as well as existing businesses

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ED Projects - Projected Time Frame cont’d.

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• Short Term: 2-4 years – Trails, historic buildings

– Minerva Park- year round washroom, kiosk, band shell, boat launch, beach, parking

– Bike friendly community

– Fire hall

– 8-80 considerations

– Park benches and bike racks

– Plantings

– Ongoing Façade program

ED Projects - Projected Time Frame cont’d.

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• Long Term: 5-10 years – Roads Yard, parking

– Plantings

– Ongoing façade program

– Trails

– McKellar 150 anniversary events

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Long term plan and sources of funding to be assessed over time

• Need to establish the cost to implement each ED project and the overall total cost, itemizing all possible sources of funding

– Consider selling of municipal surplus land to develop commercial space

– Investigate all government grants for each project

– Locate future commercial investors for a restaurant, gas station

– Plan to build up capital reserves over time

– Consider the purchase of new land for future development of a combined Roads and Fire Hall facility

– Budget each year for implementation of the Strategic plan

– Sale of default properties

– Investigate borrowing and investing in the future at a low interest rate over time

– Projection of 10 year tax base including increase of commercial base, expense projections

– Once we have the facts try and calculate the ROI (Return on Investment) over 10 ~ 20 years

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What is Needed Now

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• To date, all of this has been a concept. Two years of public discussions has provided positive reinforcement for the ideas and resulted in fine tuning the document

• What is needed now is for the activities to be researched for viability, sustainability and acceptability

• The means to fund each project must be established and accurate time lines laid out

• In order for this in depth research to continue, council needs to agree to the development of the long term Strategic Plan

• At this stage this has to be a joint project between council, staff and committees

WHERE WE ARE

WHAT WE HAVE

WHERE WE WANT TO GO

WHAT WE WANT

HOW TO GET THERE?

EDC

References and Publications Key to Strategic Plans

• Municipal Planning and Financial Tools for Economic Development www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page9392.aspx

• The Municipal Councillor’s Guide 2014 http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4965

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities http://www.fcm.ca/home/programs/green-municipal-fund/examples-of-municipal-sustainable-community-plans-or-strategies.htm

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Strategic Planning ... Is It For You? http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/93-041.htm

• Grants 101 A USA site, but, well worth visiting http://ojp.gov/grants101/strategicplan.htm

• Delta Partners Management Consultants. The Business Case for Strategic Planning in Municipal and Regional Governments http://www.deltapartners.ca/blog/the-business-case-for-strategic-planning-in-municipal-and-regional-governme

• Strategic Plan Book available at Municipalworld.com http://www.municipalworld.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=81

• 8-80 Cities, Walk and Bike, Parks and Streets, for All http://www.8-80cities.org/

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Ontario Municipalities Strategic Plan examples Please visit these sites

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• St. Charles Strategic Plan, Funding Assistance was received by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor http://www.stcharlesontario.ca/upload/documents/st-

charlestragplan2013.pdf

• Highland East, a very good template reference for a Strategic Plan http://www.highlandseast.ca/files/highlands_east_strategic_plan.pdf

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END

Thank you

J. Cole July 22, 2013