The Northwestern Ontario Development Network wants to build an online toolbox for economic development in the region.
The organization put out a call Thursday for information, resources and tools to support local and regional development they can use for an online repository, a central hub of knowledge.
That would include items like plans, studies, reports and strategies from government, business and industry at the community and regional levels. “Anything that has been done over the past number of years that can be pulled together so folks within the region, but also outside the region, know what we’re thinking, what our capabilities are, the work that we do,” said Brent Kelso, development officer for NODN. “We are in the 21st century and for us to be sustainable, we need to be on the ball with our knowledge management,” he added.
The online repository, known as EcDev Net, is also about empowerment. “How do we enhance the effectiveness of our delivery here in the region for economic development?” Kelso said.
The answer is in creating best practices, dialoguing and making inquiries. “It’s empowering folks to take a project or initiative to the next level,” Kelso said.
EcDev Net is a refreshing approach, said Kelso, noting it will help people know where we are as a region in terms of economic development.
As an example, he said Thunder Bay has a strategic plan, but not all Northwestern Ontario municipalities have one and many also don’t have economic development officers. “Our role as a regional organization is to take the lead and be that catalyst and motivator for regional development,” he said.
For more information visit www.nodn.com.
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