There are three recent strategic plans which have been developed by the communities within Sudbury East and West Nipissing.

• Community Adjustment Plan for the Municipality of French River (2000)
• Vision 2000 Plus - strategic plan for the Municipality of West Nipissing (1999)
• Sudbury East Strategic Plan - developed by the communities of Sudbury East (1996)

Community Development Initiatives

Based on the priorities listed in the above mentioned plans, Economic Partners has incorporated in its 2000-2001 workplan eight (8) initiatives which are regional in focus.

• Telecommunication
  • Leadership role
  • Steering committee with regional representation
  • Examine status
  • Determine 'gaps'
  • Help generate investment in telecommunication infrastructure

• Tourism and Area Marketing
  • Supporting / Coordination role
  • Group effort
  • Examine the usage of technology
  • Boast on our area's success
  • Bring the players to the table
  • Examine current efforts
  • Develop short term and long term action plans

• Goat Milk Production
  • Implementation phase
  • Complete feasibility study w/ business plan
  • Initiate individual business planning efforts
  • Initiate individual technical planning efforts
  • Examine and suggest organizational structure (governance model) for the potential producers

• Business Centres
  • Establish Business Centres in Sudbury East and West Nipissing
  • Based on partnership between other organizations

• Corporate Marketing
  • Develop strategy to:
    • Promote new image
    • Promote partnership development
    • Promote products and service
    • Develop logo and website
    • Communication strategy

• Agriculture Diversification Strategy
  • Regional session to examine the status of our agricultural industry
  • Examine current issues and barriers to diversification
  • Examine diversification possibilities

• Forestry Diversification Strategy
  • Regional session to examine the status of our forestry industry
  • Examine current issues and barriers to diversification
  • Examine diversification possibilities

• Regional Trail Network
  • Coordinated approach to trail inventory:
    • Development of trail system marketing strategy
    • Examine linkages to other trail networks
    • Development of audio/video material

Partnership Development

Economic Partners - Sudbury East / West Nipissing Inc. firmly believes in the importance of building partnerships. It wouldn't be wise to say that Community Economic Development is the responsibility of one organization. It is the responsibility of the community and its members. The establishment of working groups representative of all of the community is the first priority when a project is launched. Here are a few examples of working groups and partnerships that have been (or will soon be) established:

• SEWNet Community Network (Telecommunications)
• West Nipissing Business Centre
• Sudbury East Community Development Centre
• Sudbury East/West Nipissing Trails and Tourism Development Committee

Fox , Neil V. General Manager 30 Front Street, Unit A Sturgeon Falls, ON   P2B 3L4 Canada Tel: 705-753-5450 x229 Fax: 705-753-3456