Hants RDAAnnual Review

2008 - 2009

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Hants RDA Annual Review 2008-2009 | 3

THE HANTS RDA The Hants Regional Development Authority is a forward-looking organization established to support and advance community economic development in Hants County. From its offices in Windsor and Elmsdale, the Hants RDA works with businesses, community groups and all three levels of government to champion the interests of Hants County locally, regionally and internationally. The Hants RDA is one of 13 Regional Development Authorities in Nova Scotia. It was incorporated in 1997 under the Regional Community Development Act at the request of the four municipal governments in Hants County. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, we receive funding from the municipalities of East Hants and West Hants; the Towns of Windsor and Hantsport; the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; and the provincial departments of Economic & Rural Development and Community Services. Our key task is to develop and implement a regional strategy. The current strategy, “Connected. 2008-2011.”, was developed in 2008 through extensive public and stakeholder consultation. It focuses the Hants RDA on “making the connections that help Hants County achieve sustainable prosperity.” To this end, we connect new tourists, residents and entrepreneurs to Hants County through Regional Promotion. We connect our clients to new skills and resources through Community Development and Business Development. And we connect Hants County to outside decision makers through Advocacy. The Hants RDA is committed to transparency and accountability. We are an ISO 9001:2000 registered organization, which means that we have adopted policies and procedures that meet international standards for continuous quality improvement. Our ISO registration is maintained through an annual external audit. In October 2008, we introduced our first quarterly “performance scorecard”. These new quarterly reports build upon our ISO system to provide the board, funders, and stakeholders with reliable and balanced information on the organization’s performance. The Hants RDA is the first RDA in Nova Scotia to report performance on a quarterly basis.

STAFF

Front row seated (L to R): Jane Crosby, BA, FTT (Assistant Development Officer); Viorica Sporea, BA, CITP (Regional Promotion Officer); Chantelle Marshall, BA (Operations Manager); Rebecca Turner (Administrative Assistant). Back row standing (L to R): Pat Gould-Thorpe, BSc, BEng (Community Development Officer); Ryan MacNeil, BBA, MAES (Executive Director); Wendy Aird, BA, MBA (Business Retention & Expansion Officer).

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Front row (L to R): Beth Caldwell (Industry, West Hants), Ryan MacNeil (Executive Director), Chair Rick Gaudet (Councillor, West Hants), Treasurer Laurie Murley (Deputy Mayor, Windsor) Back row (L to R): Shannon Cunningham (Councillor, Hantsport), John Patterson (Warden, East Hants), Roger Gerrard (Board Advisor, NSERD), Creelman MacArthur (Small Business, West Hants) Missing from photo: Vice-Chair Jim Smith (Education, Hants East), Mike Bishop (Natural Resources, Hants West), John Bregante (Tourism, Hants West), Gordon Dickie (Natural Resources, Hants East), Beth McNeill (Small Business, Hants East), Brian Banks (Board Advisor, ACOA), Wendy Keen (Board Advisor, DCS).

4 | Hants RDA Annual Review 2008-2009

Mission Statement

"To make the connections that help Hants County achieve sustainable prosperity."

Vision Statement

"Sustainable prosperity for Hants County."

Values Statement

"We value genuine progress that connects social/cultural diversity and environmental

stewardship with economic growth."

Regional Promotion Welcomed Kathy Monroe and Nancy Barmore (USA), Neal and Elizabeth White (USA), and Anthony Kawalski and Jonathan Twinley (UK) to Hants County under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

Immigration nominee Dr. Jeremy Lee’s company (Sustainable Fish Farming Canada) completed the first phase of construction at its aquaculture facility in Centre Burlington.

Formed the “Halifax International Marketing Alliance” in partnership with Greater Halifax Partnership, Colchester RDA, Kings CED Agency, and Lunenburg-Queens RDA.

Completed the “Hants County Tourism Strategic Action Plan” through consultants at the Economic Planning Group of Canada and funding from Hants RDA, ACOA, and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

Completed the “Hants County Human Capital Analysis and Action Plan” through consultants at Mount Allison University’s Rural and Small Town Programme.

Partnered with Nova Scotia Business Inc to complete an investment readiness assessment of Hants County.

Printed 200 copies of the popular Cemetery Maps for the Destination Hants Shore Association.

Collected 50 resumes for an NSBI client considering business in the Elmsdale area.

Provided sponsorship and administrative support to the “East Hants Tourism Forum”, hosted by the municipality on February 26.

Sponsored the Central Nova Tourism Conference in Truro and spoke about Hants County Tourism during the luncheon.

Business Development Provided business retention & expansion support to 21 businesses, including 57 referrals to partners and colleagues. Reached an agreement with the Municipality of East Hants for cooperation on Business Retention and Expansion in East Hants.

Helped a local company secure a significant business deal with a Japanese multinational, through the BR+E program and the support of many partners.

Provided four workshops titled, “So You Want to Start a Business” throughout the year. Sixty individuals participated and learned how to start a business in Hants County.

Piloted a small business coaching program. Nine small business owners/managers each received three one-on-one coaching sessions from an Acadia University Business Professor.

Co-hosted (with the West Hants Chamber of Commerce) the annual “shop local” Christmas fair at the Downtown Windsor Mall.

Developed (through the Hants BR+E Local Action Team) an action plan in response to the global economic slowdown, and a partnership approach to supporting displaced workers.

Worked with the Job Resource Centre to organize job loss workshops in response to layoffs in Hants West.

Hants RDA Annual Review 2008-2009 | 5

Community Development Helped the Windsor Day Care secure $675,000 in funding for a major expansion.

Helped the Windsor Business Enhancement Society secure a grant for its waterfront summer concert series.

Provided local support for the province’s Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia project, including presentations in Windsor and Elmsdale for municipal councilors and staff.

Facilitated a meeting of the “Fort Edward Committee”, resulting in a short-term action plan to pursue development at the National Historic Site.

Hosted a Downtown Revitalization discussion (with the Town of Windsor, WBES and WHCC), followed by an “Inspiration and Action Session” for key stakeholders in Windsor’s “Downtown & Waterfront Revitalization” on February 9.

Supported KSEED’s successful 2nd Annual 84th Regiment Homecoming.

Helped KSEED access funding for the 225th Anniversary of the Founding of Douglas Township being held in Kennetcook.

Participated in a visit by Premier Rodney MacDonald to the Shubenacadie Tin Smith Shop Museum.

The Cheverie Salt Marsh Restoration Site completed its interpretive centre plan and initial trail construction.

The Hants County Arts Council hosted its second Annual “Festival of Art”.

Began partnership discussions with the Shubenacadie Canal Commission toward long-term tourism and business development along the Hants County section of the Canal system.

Secured $15,000 in funding from the Department of Tourism (Heritage Division) for phase one of the Planters 250th Anniversary project.

Helped “Hockeyland” plan a public meeting in Windsor to discuss the facility’s future location.

Helped the Walton & Area Development Association secure funding from the Municipality of East Hants, Nova Scotia Economic Development, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and then use this funding to complete a “Walton & Area Development Plan”.

Wrote a newspaper article on securing summer student funding and provided advice to a number of community groups on their funding applications for 2009.

Developed a Summary of Non-profit Funding programs available in 2009 and distributed the document in print as well as on the hantscounty.com website.

Helped the Brooklyn Civic Centre submit a funding proposal to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Through the Windsor Community Inclusion Committee helped connect people with disabilities to community activities.

Helped The Place Near and Far Art Gallery secure funding to host an art competition to stimulate awareness of East Hants communities and history.

Assisted with the initiation of the Community Halls Cooperation Project which has resulted in cooperative projects and joint marketing for participating halls.

Advocacy The Hants RDA and all four municipal councils wrote to the Premier regarding the importance of continued railway service from Halifax to Hantsport. Deputy Premier Angus MacIssac replied that government is aware of the issue and sees connections to the Atlantic Gateway Project.

Wrote to Minister Peter MacKay regarding decision-making delays at ACOA.

Ryan MacNeil was selected to chair the planning committee for a joint “Population Policy Forum” between the province’s RDAs, Chambers of Commerce, and UNSM.

Provided support and advice to consultants working on a report to prevent the closure of Hantsport School.

Co-hosted a presentation on the Bay of Fundy Tidal Energy Project with the Hantsport & Area Business Association and Minas Basin Pulp & Power.

Participated in the provincial government’s “Let’s Talk Tourism” session in Windsor, and raised the issues of road conditions on the Hants Shore and the need for a Bay of Fundy Tourism Plan.

Helped organize an announcement in Elmsdale by Premier MacDonald and Minister Scott regarding the Nova Scotia Industrial Expansion Fund.

Ran a local public relations campaign to provide information about Hants County and the economic slowdown.

6 | Hants RDA Annual Review 2008-2009

Client Stories On behalf of the Board, I wanted to give a big thanks for all your help and contributions to our cause. We couldn’t have done it without you!

- Shelley Bibby, Windsor Day Care

Extremely satisfied and grateful for their assistance which has benefitted us by allowing us to access government programs that we might not have otherwise known about.

- Anonymous feedback from a BRE client survey.

The depth of resources provided by the RDA through Pat Gould-Thorpe was exceptional.

- Lee Hennigar, Kennetcook Society for Economic and Environmental Dev.

Excellent service and a real sense of caring for our business. Keep up the good work.

- Anonymous feedback from a BRE client survey.

Hants RDA staff have given us great help with our revitalization of our waterfrontage.

- Gerta Hudson, Walton & Area Development Association

The Robin Hood of Canada’s biotech industry Ugandan-born scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Dr. Abdullah Kirumira has developed a cutting edge business model that takes from the rich and gives to the poor. And in his case, it’s proving to be more than just a sophisticated way to redistribute income – it’s an award-winning strategy. Since fleeing Uganda in the 1970s, Dr. Kirumira, 53, dreamed of providing affordable health care in Africa, where he estimates accurate diagnosis could cut mortality rates by as much as 25%. Dr. Kirumira’s company, BioMedica Diagnostic Systems, now uses the proceeds from international sales of reagents that diagnose heart disease and thrombosis, to offset the R&D costs of his “lab in a box” technology. The portable labs are being sold throughout Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, through bodies like the World Health Organization. In January, Dr. Kirumira won the prestigious Technology Pioneer Award from the World Economic Forum for “successfully using technology innovation…to bridge the north to south economic disparity.” The award was his second major international prize in as many years - in 2007 he won a Bioscience Innovation Award from The Economist magazine for his 1993 invention of the world’s first rapid acting HIV test, which is currently sold internationally. Through its Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR+E) the Hants RDA has helped BioMedica tap into international demand. While Dr. Kirumira focused on developing his cutting edge research and technology, the Hants RDA helped promote his company to national and international audiences. In addition, the RDA helped to arrange networking opportunities with international visitors to Nova Scotia, all of which has led to exciting new business opportunities. “Two of the projects Wendy has completed for BioMedica, in its effort to internationalize our business are beyond reproach,” says Dr. Kirumira. “The professionalism and timely turn around are particularly commendable.” “The Hants RDA’s BR+E program helps foster an environment where companies like BioMedica can stay in Nova Scotia and compete around the world,” says executive director Ryan MacNeil. “It’s an example of sustainable development at its best.”

Dr. Abdullah Kirumira, CEO, BioMedica Diagnotic Systems Photo by Oliver Childs for the Hants RDA.

Hants RDA Annual Review 2008-2009 | 7

Chomping at the Bit Until recently, Kathy Monroe was the hard-driving CEO of an electronic banking company based in south-western Wisconsin. But a 2002 trip to a Nova Scotia horse farm turned her formidable focus east. Monroe and her partner Nancy Barmore traveled to Antigonish to learn techniques for carriage-driving with their favourite breed of horses: Norwegian Fjords. Norwegian Fjord horses are ideally suited to Nova Scotia’s hardy climate. And over the course of several trips to the province, Monroe and Barmore discovered Nova Scotia suited them equally as well. There was just one problem: neither Monroe nor Barmore were landed immigrants yet, and the process could mean years in waiting. Things changed when federal MP Scott Brison suggested the couple approach the Hants RDA for assistance. After evaluating Monroe’s plans and experience, executive director Ryan MacNeil wrote a letter of recommendation in support of their landing papers, which helped speed up the immigration process significantly. “The Hants RDA put us on a faster track which has allowed us to make this vision a reality far sooner than we could have otherwise,” says Monroe. With this assistance, their immigration was approved in a remarkable seven months. “Immigrants bring new ideas and fresh thinking to rural communities,” says MacNeil. “Our community will benefit from the expertise, job creation and know-how Kathy Monroe can bring to our area.” Five months after leaving the helm of a financial services company, Monroe’s vision for Wallace Point Fjords (www.wallacepointfjords.com) is nearing reality. Construction on the horse farm, including a 60-foot covered round pen and supporting equine facility, will commence this summer. Here, Kathy and Nancy will breed Norwegian Fjords and sell them to customers throughout North America. They have already formed a cooperative with four local Norwegian Fjord breeders, and commissioned dozens of Hants County artists to produce Norwegian Fjord-inspired art, which is currently showcased at Windsor’s Utata Gallery. This summer, they will also capitalize on Nova Scotia’s growing wine industry by planting a vineyard. But the former CEO warns she’s barely gotten started. “I’m so thrilled to be here – and so eager to get going.”

Partners The Hants RDA's strategic plan, "Connected." recognizes the vital role of partnership in achieving sustainable prosperity for our region. To this end we have made "partnership strength" one of the key performance indicators in our balanced scorecard. In September we conducted our first annual survey to gauge the strength of our partnerships and identify ways to strengthen our network. The headline result was 3.9 points out of 5.0 on partnership strength. Thank you to the many organizations that collaborated with us this year: − ACOA − Acadia Centre for Social & Business

Entrepreneurship − Annapolis Digby Economic

Development Agency − Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership − CBDC Hants-Kings − Central Nova Tourism Association − Colchester RDA − Centre for Women in Business − Dept. of Community Services − Dept of Foreign Affairs &

International Trade − Destination Southwest Nova − Dept. of Health Promotion − Dept. of Labour & Workforce

Development − Dept. of Tourism, Culture &

Heritage − East Hants & District Chamber of

Commerce − FutureWorx Job Search Centre − Greater Halifax Partnership − Hantsport and Area Business

Association − Job Resource Centre − Kings CED Agency − Lunenburg Queens RDA − Municipality of East Hants − Municipality of West Hants − Nova Scotia Association of CBDCs − Nova Scotia Association of RDAs − Nova Scotia Business Inc. − Nova Scotia Community College − Nova Scotia Economic and Rural

Development − Town of Hantsport − Town of Windsor − West Hants Chamber of Commerce

“Ready To Go” by Ed Mattie, commissioned by NovaFjords and currently showing at UTATA Gallery, Windsor.

1-877-284-2687

www.hantscounty.com

East Hants Resource Centre Suite 200-1, 15 Commerce Court

Elmsdale, NS B2S 3K5 Fax: (902) 883-3024

Enterprise Centre of Hants County

Box 2313, 80 Water Street Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 Fax: (902) 798-3254