StrategyCorp report guides Windsor through challenging economic development environment
StrategyCorp was engaged by the City of Windsor to conduct an Economic Development Delivery Strategy. The review focused on ways to improve on the existing structure using the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation, a regional organization that provides economic development services across the Windsor/Essex region.
To complete the review, StrategyCorp conducted extensive interviews with key stakeholders to gain a deep understanding of the City’s economic development challenges and needs. The interviews included both political and business interests, such as City Councillors, local start-ups, large companies, and local economic development and related organizations. Following the interviews, StrategyCorp reviewed best practices from other municipalities, and conducted a gap analysis to determine how the City could maximize the results from its efforts with respect to economic development.
Economic development is a key issue for the City of Windsor. It was identified by City Council as a key priority in its recently developed 20-Year Vision. Recognizing this, StrategyCorp worked to develop a balanced report that sought to improve service delivery outcomes without undermining the benefits of the existing structure.
The final report called for the hiring of 2.5 additional staff at the City of Windsor to help with local economic development within the City. Local economic development initiatives were noted as an important area for improvement in interviews, and the hiring of the 2.5 employees should help in meeting the City’s local needs. In addition, the report proposed more active management of the regional agency, and a tying of funding more directly with measureable performance outcomes to ensure the City was getting value for its investments in economic development.
The final report was approved by Council on December 7th in a 10-1 vote.
For more details see news articles from:
Read the full Windsor Star article >>
Read the full CBC News article >>
Below is some of the Twitter coverage StrategyCorp received:
We are now on to the report from StrategyCorp called "Windsor Economic Development Delivery Strategy."
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
John Matheson of StrategyCorp talking to council about report now.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
Report looked at two things, Matheson says.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
One was whether the regional economic development model is working.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
Here he is referring to the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation. (We'll use the acronym WEEDC in tweets for simplicity.)
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
He says Windsor and WEEDC have differing views on strategy for economic development.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
He says there is no pattern to when WEEDC reports to Windsor. There was reporting, he says, but no set pattern to how it happened.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
Matheson says there is frustration that there is not enough information about what WEEDC does in order to evaluate how it is doing.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 7, 2015
StrategyCorp thinks Windsor should overhaul its accountability relationship with WEEDC.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson summing up what StrategyCorp thinks Windsor should do to revamp its relationship with WEEDC. pic.twitter.com/TuMd2tCEte
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Sleiman asking if Matheson considered if WEEDC could be modified to better suit what city needs, rather than do what StrategyCorp proposes.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
StrategyCorp has suggested an approach that would involve work on the city side, along with changing its relationship with WEEDC.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Coun. Payne wants to know how other cities/municipalities approach economic development.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson says it is common to have a regional approach.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
But Matheson says performance agreements are typically involved, which is not the way he says WEEDC gets its funding.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Payne wants to know about the city-funded positions that StrategyCorp thinks Windsor would need under an amended model.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson says city already doing a lot for business development in specific capacities.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
StrategyCorp thinks city would need to establish staff team for economic development. They estimate this would comprise 2.5 full-time staff.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson talking about difficulty of working in economic development and how you can't guarantee the creation of jobs.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Coun. Francis asking question about how Matheson compiled the report.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson said he and a colleague did 31 interviews in total. All members of council were invited to participate.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Coun. Marra referencing Windsor's high unemployment rate.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson reiterating point about the wide support for maintaining a regional approach to economic development.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Marra wants to know if Matheson talked to WEEDC staff for his report. The answer is yes.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Sleiman wants to know where Matheson came up with the 2.5 full-time staff figure.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson says he and his colleagues did reach out to existing city staff in a bid to estimate how much work would need to be done.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Coun. Borrelli wants to know if the city's CAO should be on the WEEDC board, along with the mayor.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson says he believes the mayor should be on the board for strategic leadership.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015
Matheson says council should create a performance agreement for WEEDC and depending on what that looks like, decide who is on the board.
— CBC Windsor (@CBCWindsor) December 8, 2015