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Draft Regional Strategic Plan

August 3, 2010

WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation - Regional Economic Roadmap

Dear Friend:

During the course of the last three and a half months, I, along with members of the Board of Director's and leadership team at the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, have focused on reaching out into our communities and meeting with key stakeholders and partners. These meetings were designed to gain valuable insight into what we need to do more of to promote regional economic prosperity and a high quality of life in Windsor and Essex County.

In most cases, these discussions have provided a forum for frank, honest, and constructive feedback on the direction of our region and the role of the WEEDC. In our many discussions, the theme which emerged most frequently was the need to continue promote, enhance and strengthen our regional approach to economic development by increasing the intensity of regional collaboration and engagement. As you are likely aware, these discussions were part of a more coordinated effort to update and enhance the current WEEDC regional economic roadmap and strategic plan.

I am delighted to share this document with you, which in a very significant way, was shaped and formed by the nearly 200 community leaders, stakeholders, and partners who were involved in this process.

As a key regional stakeholder, you may ask - "what does this document really mean?"

Let's focus on what this document seeks to achieve:

• This roadmap deliberately focuses on the need for improved regional collaboration, communication, outreach and partnership. This document represents the "what" as it respects an improved catalytic approach to regional economic development.
• This document reflects a synthesis of data, thoughts, opinions and ideas collected as part of a broad based consultation process with almost 200 key community stakeholders, partners, and leaders.
• This document acknowledges current and past progress of the WEEDC and regional partners in efforts to diversify our regional economy, and builds upon those successes and helps to refocus our communities on these "wins".
• This document recognizes our regional strengths, but more importantly helps to highlight our weaknesses so that we can collectively focus more attention on setting the bar higher and achieving more.
• This regional roadmap leverages the best of what we have today and marries it with a more robust framework for achieving economic success in the future.

What this document is NOT:

• This document does NOT represent an organizational strategic plan for the WEEDC, nor is it a plan that is the sole responsibility of the Economic Development Corporation.
• This document does not seek to reinvent the wheel, and in many cases doesn't tell us things which we do not already know in terms of what sectors we need to focus on to enhance prosperity and regional economic diversification.
• Further, this document is not a workplan of specific operational actions outlining current or future economic development initiatives or programming.

What's next?

The Board and staff at the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation will continue to work with all community stakeholders and partners to enhance and strengthen our economic development workplan. This workplan will enhance existing initiatives, business development projects, and strategic programming.

The WEEDC will continue to move forward to promote greater regional marketing, communication, collaboration, and strategic engagement. As we continue to enhance our workplan, and collect feedback on this roadmap, we will actively seek out your commitment and participation. Our goal is to ensure that our actions are aligned with this regional strategy.

I would like to encourage you to take an active and positive role in "taking charge of change" and helping to promote the Windsor-Essex region as the best location in Canada to 'prosper, build, connect, and achieve'.

Sincerely,

Ron Gaudet
Chief Executive Office
WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation

The WEEDC is the catalyst for economic development in the Windsor-Essex region. The WEEDC has as part of its mandate to lead economic development efforts, foster the growth of strategic industries and promote the region as a location for business investment and retention. Further, the WEEDC plays an important part in identifying key gaps in the value proposition for investing in the region (workforce, infrastructure, etc.) and collaborates with related stakeholders to address these gaps and build a strong case for businesses to grow (new entrepreneurs, local company expansions and the attraction of companies to the region).

The ten strategic building blocks in the economic development roadmap fall under the four themes of the WEEDC: