INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT William A. Ninacs Red Deer, Alberta October, 2004

1. INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTWilliam A. NinacsRed Deer, AlbertaOctober, 2004

2. AGENDA • Why CED • Definitions • Features of CED • Values inherent in CED • The How of CED • The Results and Challenges CED • Summary & Conclusion

3. VALUES FOUND WITHIN CED • Positive social transformation and change: • social and economic justice • poverty reduction • Participants as partners not clients • Individual / collective empowerment and self-help • Equal opportunity and equal access to resources • Sensitive and understanding of particular needs • Having a different understanding of risk Positive, Practical, Progressive, Pragmatic, Persistent

4. Push Factors Rise in economic, social & environmental problems. Downloading of responsibilities by higher levels of government. Pull Factors Peoples’ need to be involved in improving their community. Untapped local skills, knowledge & resources. Local ‘stick-to-it-ness’. WHY THE INTEREST IN CED?

5. CED is more than… • A technique • (e.g. a way of organizing a meeting). • A single program of an organization • (e.g. a community business, skills training project). • A person • (e.g. someone starting an enterprise).

6. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-led multi-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economic circumstances of a select population [CCEDNet]

7. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-ledmulti-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economic circumstances of a select population Relies on community organizations and members to initiate, plan, implement, direct and/or evaluate activity Geographically based or community of interest or community of identity

8. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-led multi-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economic circumstances of a select population …that integrates the achievement of several social and economic goals Single initiative, enterprise, plan, process or approach…

9. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-led multi-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economic circumstances of a select population Social circumstances relate to individuals or communities Includes feeling connected, involved in decisions Inclusive, fair, equitable results

10. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-led multi-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economiccircumstances of a select population Individuals: employability, jobs, purchasing power Community: number of businesses (sector or cluster) Level of economic activity

11. SO WHAT IS CED? A community-led multi-faceted activity or strategy which seeks to improve the social and economic circumstances of a select population Geographic community (neighbourhood, town) Identifiable group (youth, women, homeless, new immigrants) Most often disadvantaged or distressed(disempowered)

12. ANOTHER DEFINITION • CED is a community-based and community-directed process that explicitly combines social and economic development and is directed towards fostering the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities. • CED is founded on the belief that problems facing communities – unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control – need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way. [BC Working Group on CED]

13. ANOTHER DEFINITION • CED is a community-based and community-directed process that explicitly combines social and economic development and is directed towards fostering the economic, social, ecological and cultural well-being of communities. • CED is founded on the belief that problems facing communities – unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control – need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way. [BC Working Group on CED]

14. BASIC FEATURES OF CED • Devolves decision-making to those most affected by those decisions. • Is partnership-based. • Weaves together economic and social goals. [Increasingly incorporates environmental and cultural ones as well.] • Focuses on more than one issue and uses more than one technique. • Has a territorial dimension. • Is long term in nature.

15. IN PLAIN ENGLISH • If our community has a problem, one way or another, we have to help ourselves (in whole or in part). • If we are going to help ourselves, then we have to start with what we’ve got. • If we are going to help ourselves, then we have to work together. • If we are going to work together, then we have to weave together each other’s motivations and interests into a plan. • Once we have a plan, then we gotta do it.

16. THE ‘HOW’: STRATEGIES OF CED • The is no ‘one’ strategy for revitalization – the possibilities are endless. • The following ‘basic functions’ appear in a large number of CED initiatives: • Research, Planning, Networking • Community Ownership and Equity • Support for Entrepreneurs • Human Resource Development and Training • Access to Capital (Equity, Debt, Grant)

17. COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA ARE USING CED TO: • Stop the leaks in the local economy • Out migration of people and resources • Increase the inflow – build on assets • What can we leverage? • Secure the plugs • Take control of local resources • Strengthen the bucket • Invest in infrastructure or people

18. TYPES OF CED INITIATIVES • The Community Development Corporation (CDC) • The ‘Single Purpose’ Organization • Cooperatives • Social Enterprises • The Integrated Service Delivery Organization • The ‘Convenor’ organization • Associations and Networks • The ‘Infrastructure’ organization

19. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CDC) • Organizations that bring together many ‘functions’ under ‘one-roof’ • e.g. networking, research & planning, advocacy, loan funds, etc. RESO is a CDC in Montreal’s SoiuthWest neighbourhoods focussed on commuity revitalization, job creation, business development and retention, and employment training.

20. THE ‘SINGLE PURPOSE’ GROUP • Organizations that focus on one issue. (e.g. housing), • use one or two or more functions (e.g. training) and • make the links to build a local integrated solution.  The Social Economy A-Way Express Courier is a courier business owned and operated by over 45 people with mental health illness in Toronto. Women Building Futures in Edmonton is a non-profit initiative designed to train women in the skills of the building and construction sector.

21. THE SOCIAL ECONOMY

23. THE SOCIAL ECONOMY

24. CED

25. THE INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY ORGANIZATION • Organizations that offer a myriad of services that are strategically linked to each other and to local needs (often focus on Labour Force Development) LEF's programs focus on long-term employment opportunities, job readiness and skills training, and supporting both local businesses and individuals seeking work in Toronto FTE is a continuum of services built upon existing community-based training and educational expertise, using industry-based job relationships and partnerships in Vancouver

26. THE ‘CONVENER’ GROUP Organizations that bring together and help coordinate the work of many ‘CED’ and local organizations to revitalize the community. Opportunities 2000 in Waterloo Region, Ontario, convenes over 90 business, non-profit and government agencies in a poverty-reduction effort.

27. ‘INFRASTRUCTURE’ ORGANIZATIONS Organizations that support the efforts of CED groups through: • technical assistance • training • funding • research • policy analysis and advocacy • networking

28. The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) The national network where all of these groups — and more! —come together

29. RESEARCH FINDINGS • There is a growing body of evidence that the CED approach is effective in: • Ensuring solutions ‘fit’ local needs and priorities. • Improving the lives of marginalized residents. • Strengthening the capacity of local institutions. • Expanding the local economy. • Generating a ‘return’ to the taxpayer.

30. INTERNAL CHALLENGES TO EXPANDING CED RESULTS • Maintaining a meaningful voice for marginalized residents • Fostering consciousness-raising and a sense of citizenship • Thinking and acting comprehensively • Working collaboratively • Building sufficient skills, networks and financial resources in the organization • Balancing social, economic, and environmental priorities

31. CONCLUSION WHAT • A systematic, comprehensive and participatory approach to revitalizing communities and improving the lives of marginalized residents primarily through local efforts. HOW • Several types of CED institutions – power varies. • Variety of strategies – each tailored to local situation RESULTS • Evidence that CED works. • Internal and external challenges prevent better results. 0

32. Community Economic Development …locally led innovation.

33. Canadian CED Network 610-620 View St. Victoria, BC V8W 1J6 Phone: (250) 386-9980 Fax: (250) 386-9984 Toll-free: 1-877-202-2268 Email: info@ccednet-rcdec.ca Coop La CLÉ 208-59, rue Monfette Victoriaville, QC G6P 1J8 Phone: (819) 758-7797 Fax: (819) 758-2906 Email: info@lacle.coop CONTACT INFORMATION