Go local aurora_brochure_pdf
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Go Local Aurora
Local Economic Development Community Building A Proposal for a sustainable local economic development program to educate
community and promote the benefits of sustainable local production and consumption
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“It’s all about creating vibrancy”
The local main street is the business face of the community. A well maintained
‘main street’ brings pride and identity.
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About The Program: Understanding The Desires of Local Business
Globalization has brought many new products and
services to communities and regions all over the
world. Brand recognition and consistency of
product have allowed corporations to succeed in
world markets. However, we live and identify with
our local environment – our community. The
pressures of globalization have put fiscal stress on
local entrepreneurs and independent businesses
that strive to add independence.
Trade is very important to people’s way of life but
when diversity, local jobs and accessibility are
compromised, we see a decline in support of the
‘main street’ of a community. The Go Local
Program aims to bring community and local
businesses together for increased trade,
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streetscape improvement and greater accessibility
to the diversity of products and services outside our
front doors.
How It Begins
It begins with understanding the needs of local
business and residents to form relationships of
patronage and good will. The engagement
process will inform and encourage local business
owners to take part in consultations and
brainstorming sessions as well as attend
educational seminars on main street development
and street scape enhancements.
Key objectives of the primary engagement round
includes:
• Relationship building and education
• Historical sensitivity and cultural assessment
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Bringing business and community together to prosper and thrive.
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Why Local Economic Development is Essential for Community Prosperity
“When all you have is a hammer, everything looks
like a nail”
With new technology and the rapid rate of
development, scales of economy have produced
a generic streetscape that reproduces franchise
environments, car-intensive streetscapes, making
business and resident areas look and feel the same
across whole regions. The exceptions are well
known attractions for tourists and locals alike.
Research has demonstrated the close relationship
between entrepreneurship and regional and local
development. Innovativeness developed within
local inter-firm networks both supports existing firms
and presents opportunities for starting new
businesses in order to serve newly identified
markets.
LED makes better use of limited resources. By
engaging in local dialogue, networks can pro-
actively self-identify opportunities and create
greater resilience to global economic
environment. This bottom-up approach is multi-
disciplinary in nature. To maintain competitive
advantage, entrepreneurial spirit must flourish and
have access to intellectual capital and financial
resources and be well supported.
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Buying and Selling Locally is Better for the Economy and
the Environment. Local vendors use their own time and energy to source products to bring to
the community. When that purchase is made, grown or produced locally, it
becomes an investment in that area.
Spending a dollar with a local vendor creates a local economy as that
same dollar bounces from person to person and from store to store before it
has a chance to leave.
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“It’s all about creating vibrancy”
Aurora Village Revitalization – Culture, Business,
Community
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Aurora Village
Aurora Village is defined by its proximity to the
Yonge and Wellington intersection. It is a heavily
trafficked area with unusual setbacks, posing
unique challenges and opportunities.
Bringing Identity
A Village is a definable area, with a unique
identity. Examples in York and Durham regions
include Kleinburg and Unionville. It represents the
past and future intent of the community linking
heritage and legacy to the sustainability of trade
and quality of life.
Bringing Community
The streetscape in Aurora Village is challenged for
walkability, bicycle use, parking and traffic flow.
• Relationship building and education
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• Historical sensitivity and cultural assessment
• Defining scope and participation levels
• Defining roles, strategy and organization
• Reviewing the Aurora Promenade draft
plan
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A Cyclovia is an event that is celebrated many
cities all over the world, including Bogata,
Portland, Tucson, Moreland, Quito, Mexico City,
Lima, New York, Los Angeles and more. In
Canada, cities have used the cyclovia to improve
access to local businesses and to engage the
community in a positive healthy way. Winnipeg,
Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hamilton have
all participated in such an event.
Aurora Village with its unique position between
established communities, ongoing events such as
Farmer’s markets and certain amenities is an
excellent geographic location for bringing people
out to enjoy the streetlife. A Cyclovia proposed for
Aurora Village could run on Yonge Street from
Orchard Heights Blvd. to Church Street on a
weekend morning, allowing people to bike, run,
rollarblade and walk in safety along the
commercial route.
The proposed Cyclovia would run 8am to 2pm on
Saturday mornings, utilizing the outside lanes of
Yonge Street. The best case scenario is to fully
close Yonge Street for the morning allowing full
access, pollution and noise reduction, and full
family safety.
• Provide space for youth, entrepreneurs
and community builders to access and
share resources to help solve problems in
the community (economic, social,
environmental).
• Can be a week-to-week lease or
agreement – furniture donated – quick
setup/teardown
• Can keep empty spaces or storefronts
occupied and useful
• Several working models including two in
Toronto (see website)
• The plan can be found on the Town of
Aurora website
• Reveals plans for intensification, design
and streetscape improvements
• Long range vision of Aurora’s commercial
areas
• Recommends green buildings, street
furniture, wider promenade
• Combination of elements is meant to
improve ‘downtown’ area
• How can LED plan add to/improve/ assist
current plans?
Cyclovia The Promenade Plan Social Innovation Centre
A video link to see what Cyclovia is all about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XktvrrMBMi0
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The Aurora Promenade
A vision was developed in 2009 and a draft plan was adopted by council in late 2010 – highlights include:
The plan supports more pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
Maintain heritage architecture.
Increased density and mixed usage.
Lack of Risk Analysis
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Businesses are interested in seeing immediate improvement – what can we do now?
The Promenade plan has listed a series of steps by priority and could benefit from some additional ideas:
Cleaning up and changing the look are prominent.
Greening the space should play a role.
Biking and walking programs can be a welcome addition.
A ‘Go Local’ marketing program to engage the community.
More to come through engagement sessions…
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Continued from the Aurora Promenade Plan…
What can we address NOW and in a sustainable way?
Landscaping – native species, herbs, food in baskets, empty lots, space
Rent trees in containers
GoLocal promotion – stickers in windows displaying membership and participation in community program, public engagement
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Sustainable Development Recognizing the need to be responsible
for our local environment means reducing
our footprint and enriching our local
trade.
LED can result in compound benefits to:
• Local food production
• Recycling and reuse of materials
• Local employment opportunities
• Leveraging skills and knowledge
• Green buildings
Creating Opportunities Creating networks with regional and
Ontario producers of materials, organic
foods and beverages, artisan crafts and
recyclers develops resilient relationships
that can thrive even when energy prices
rise or foreign products lower standards.
• Relationship building
• Public Relations & Promoting
• Networking
• Sourcing
• Access to skills and resources
Promotions and Marketing There are many ways to encourage
residents to work with and identify pro-
local businesses.
• Go Local Partner window sticker
• Newsletter
• Events and Socials
• Volunteerism and Activism
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Go Local Aurora Business Development Program 45 Buchanan Crescent Aurora, Ontario L4G 5K4
Contact: Chris Caldwell - [email protected] 416.508.5938