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BDP Evaluation Presentation to Canadian Evaluation Society

This presentation outlines the background, main findings, challenges, and opportunities of the Business Development Program (BDP) by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The findings highlight the positive outcomes and impacts of the BDP on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Atlantic Canada, including growth, employment, wages, sales, and exports. The presentation also discusses the challenges and opportunities in access to capital, skills development, business support, strategic priorities, and specific sectors. The conclusion emphasizes the positive benefit-cost ratios of the BDP investment and the importance of strategic partnerships and sector development.

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BDP Evaluation Presentation to Canadian Evaluation Society

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  1. BDP EVALUATIONPresentationto Canadian Evaluation SocietyDarlene JonesManager, Evaluation - ACOA June 2003

  2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Background and Approach • Main Findings • Challenges and Opportunities • Conclusions and Lessons Learned

  3. BACKGROUND • ACOA: Promotes opportunities for economic development in Atlantic Canada • BDP: ACOA’s Core Program • $814 million to 4275 clients • 75% interest-free loans to small business • 25% contribution to not for profit organizations

  4. APPROACH • Six Issues • Steering Committee • Consultants/ACOA Staff • Multi-method Approach: Qualitative/Quantitative

  5. FINDINGS: Outcomes

  6. FINDINGS: Outcomes andImpact on SMEs Comparison Group Analysis – Statistics Canada - Growth • Employment: BDP four times higher than unassisted • Wages: BDP six times higher than unassisted • Survival (still in business after 3 years): BDP double over unassisted

  7. FINDINGS: Outcomes and Impacts on SMEs (Caveat: Projects not all complete) Performance Measurement – Employment and Wages • Employment: 65% achievement • Wages: 40% growth (all clients) 95% growth (innovation) 52% growth (marketing projects)

  8. FINDINGS: Outcomes andImpact on SMEs (Caveat: Projects not all complete) Performance Measurement – Sales and Export Sales • Sales: 34% growth • Export Sales: 45% growth (all clients) 93% growth (marketing projects)

  9. FINDINGS: Outcomes Benefit-Cost Ratio • GDP Impact: $7.5 for every $1 • Net benefits to taxpayer 2:1

  10. FINDINGS: Access to Capital External findings • Atlantic SME debt market less developed • Rural bank closures Internal findings • Downward trend in numbers of establishment (1995 = 33% vs. 2001 = 16%) • Being used strategically (Tourism, Aquaculture) • Gap in soft cost support still evident • Unsecured BDP loans make projects “bankable” (leverage)

  11. FINDINGS: Skills Development • Very low take-up • Clients satisfied with BDP • Clients are growth oriented (70% exporters, 70% innovators) • Awareness, promotion needed • Unsecured debt/no measurables

  12. FINDINGS: Business Support • Projects such as Education Infrastructure, Community Development and Industry Development • Leveraged nearly 60% (other investors) • Outcomes: 52% Achieved; 6% Underway • Outputs: 36% Achieved • Need improved methods for measuring outcomes • Provides affordable service to SMEs

  13. FINDINGS: Strategic Priorities • Innovation firms highly levered • Innovation firms seeking equity financing • Export firms profitable/weak cash flow • Firms with >50% Export Sales highest employment generators • Clients satisfied • BDP responsive to needs of Innovation/Exporting

  14. FINDINGS: Sectors • Aquaculture: Fast growing industry with regional/species-specific strategies • Tourism: Fast growing industry built on Atlantic-wide strategies and partnerships • Computer Services: Emerging industry

  15. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED • The benefit-cost ratios for GDP and returns to the taxpayer indicate that the pay-off for the BDP investment overall is positive even if the loans are not fully repaid. • Access to Capital continues to be an important constraint to growth and competitiveness of Atlantic SMEs

  16. CONCLUSIONS ANDLESSONS LEARNED (continued) • Greater relative share of Innovation/Export indicates both ACOA and clients recognize importance. Opportunities exist for greater impact of Skills Development • Business support measurement and monitoring challenges made finding strong, positive results difficult

  17. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED (continued) • Evidence shows that Innovators/Exporters are among the Top performers of the Business Development Program • The BDP is most effective as a tool for sector development when used strategically in partnership (capital, soft cost, business support)

  18. Challenges Abundance of data Recognition of local and sectoral differences Presenting concise findings Conflicting priorities Resourcing issues based on staff turnover Time constraints related to abundance of data and resourcing Opportunities Methods and techniques for improving efficiency Value of evaluation within organization (policy outcome) MAIN CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

  19. THANK YOU!www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca

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