Introduction to Community Economic Development

Introduction to Community Economic Development CED 101

Agenda • Why CED • Definitions • Features of CED • Values inherent in CED • The How of CED • The Results and Challenges of CED • Summary and Conclusion

Why this session? • To make it easier for more people to understand how they can get involved in building capacity in their community. • To develop a common language for our work – so we, practioners of CED, can all work together better.

Why the Interest in CED? PUSH FACTORS • Rise in social, economic & environmental problems. • Downloading of responsibilities by higher levels of government. PULL FACTORS • People’s need to be involved in improving their community. • Untapped local skills, resources, knowledge . • Local “stick-to-it-ness” • Power of community collaboration.

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.

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

CED - a definition “Action by people locally to create economic opportunities and enhance social conditions in their communities on a sustainable and inclusive basis particularly with those who are most disadvantaged”. Rupert Downing

Other Definitions 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 has emerged as an alternative to conventional approaches to economic development. It 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

Basic Features of CED • Devolves decision-making to those most affected by those decisions. • Weaves together economic, social and environmental goals. • Focuses on more than one issue. • Uses more than one technique • Is long-term in nature.

In Plain English • If nobody is going to help us then we gotta help ourselves. • If we are going to help ourselves then we have to start with what we got. • If we are going to work together then we have to weave together each others motivations and interests. • Once we have a plan – then – we gottado it.

Values found in 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.

The HOW – Strategies of CED • There is no ‘one’ strategy for building community capacity – the possibilities are endless. • The following ‘basic functions’ appear in a large number of CED initiatives • Research, planning and networking • Community ownership and equity • Human resource development • Access to Capital (equity, debt, grant)

Types of CED Organizations • A single purpose organization • Cooperatives • Social Enterprises • The Community Development Corporation (CDC) • The Integrated Service Delivery Organization • The Convenor organizations • Associations and Networks • The Infrastructure Organization

The Single Purpose Group • Organizations that focus on one issue e.g. housing • And/or use one or two functions e.g. training • And do so consciously making the links to build a local integrated solution. Enviro-Safe Cleaning Worker Co-op (Patrick and Musaghi)

The Community Development Corporation (CDC) • Organizations that bring together many functions under one-roof • E.g. Networking, research & planning, advocacy, loan fund

The Integrated Service Delivery Organization • Organizations that offer myriad of services that are strategically linked to each other and to local needs • These organizations usually focus on labour force development.

The Convener Group • Organizations that bring together and help coordinate the work of many CED and local organizations to revitalize the community

Infrastructure Organizations • Organizations that support the efforts of CED groups through the following methods: • Technical Assistance • Funding • Research • Policy • Networking

Results and Challenges • 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 return to the taxpayer

External Challenges to CED Results • Amount/Type of funding that is available • Government silos • Lack of supportive policy framework • Nationally defined programs • Short-term expectation

Internal Challenges to CED Results • Maintaining a meaningful voice for marginalized residents • Thinking & acting comprehensively • Working collaboratively • Building sufficient skills, networks and financial resources in the organization • Balancing social, economic and environmental priorities

Summary WHAT A deliberate, systematic and comprehensive approach to revitalizing communities and improving the lives of marginalized residents primarily through local efforts. HOW There are several types of CED institutions and strategies. RESULTS & CHALLENGES There is a growing body of evidence that CED works. There are both external and internal challenges that prevent greater results.

Canadian CED Network Is a national organization where all the different types of CED organizations come together. The network has hundreds of members, reaching thousand of organizations across the country Community based organizations: Aboriginal, youth; women’s groups; cooperatives; immigrant associations; urban; rural. Public and Private sector: Universities; foundations; consultants; financial institutions; federal, provincial and municipal governments Every province and territory is represented.

Canadian CED Network Member led, democratically governed • Supports practioner development and peer learning among it’s members. • Advocates policy to all levels of government and key sectors to strengthen support to community led efforts. • Promotes CED as an alternative model.

Canadian CED Network Committees and Working Groups • Policy • Practioner and Sector Strengthening • Membership • Research • Emerging Leaders • Human Capital • Community financing.

Canadian CED Network Staffing The network currently has 16 staff working regionally and nationally. Offices BC, Manitoba, Ontario, PEI and a national office in Ottawa Partnership with the Social Economy Organization of Quebec (le Chantier de l’economie sociale)

Information and Resources • Website • CCEDNet’s policy brochure • Monthly e-newsletter • CED Resource List • Case Studies • Policy research documents www.ccednet-rcdec.ca

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ….locally led innovation

Introduction to Community Economic Development