MNL and CBDCs Partnering on Regional Development Solutions

For Immediate Release
April 27, 2021

St. John’s, NL – Today, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) and the NL Association of Community Business Development Corporations (NL CBDCs) are announcing the establishment of a joint Regional Economic Development Task Force focused on a more coordinated planning approach to regional economic development.

Leading economic development research indicates engaging communities and stakeholders through a regional process is critical to success. Our Regional Economic Development Task Force will investigate the best ways to do exactly that here in Newfoundland and Labrador. A coordinated planning approach to regional economic development is needed here in this province, especially now.

The Task Force will include Directors and staff from both MNL and NL CBDCs. It will include representatives from Memorial University’s Harris Centre. The Harris Centre will bring its considerable expertise in engagement and regional development policy to support the work of the Task Force.

Task Force engagement with municipalities, the provincial and federal governments will begin this month. An Advisory Committee is also being established to ensure as many diverse voices are heard as possible. The Task Force has been given a deadline of December 2021 to deliver recommendations to the MNL and NL Association of CBDCs Boards of Directors.

For over a decade, MNL has maintained a leadership role in economic development through our Urban Accord and by engaging our members, sharing information, and providing economic development toolkits. The CBDC Association of NL represents all 15 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in the province that offer small business and entrepreneurship funding and advice. They cover all regions of the province.

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Contact

Gail Woodfine, MNL
✆ 709-725-1440
gwoodfine@municipalnl.ca

Rachelle White, NL CBDCs
✆ 745-4406
rachelle.white@cbdc.ca