Recent Hants RDA Accomplishments

Regional Promotion

Welcomed Kathy Monroe and Nancy Barmore (USA), Neal and Elizabeth White (USA), and Anthony Kawalski and Jonathan Twinley (UK) to Hants County under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

Immigration nominee Dr. Jeremy Lee’s company (Sustainable Fish Farming Canada) completed the first phase of construction at its aquaculture facility in Centre Burlington.

Formed the “Halifax International Marketing Alliance” in partnership with Greater Halifax Partnership, Colchester RDA, Kings CED Agency, and Lunenburg-Queens RDA.

Completed the “Hants County Tourism Strategic Action Plan” through consultants at the Economic Planning Group of Canada and funding from Hants RDA, ACOA, and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

Completed the “Hants County Human Capital Analysis and Action Plan” through consultants at Mount Allison University’s Rural and Small Town Programme.

Partnered with Nova Scotia Business Inc to complete an investment readiness assessment of Hants County.

Printed 200 copies of the popular Cemetery Maps for the Destination Hants Shore Association.

Collected 50 resumes for an NSBI client considering business in the Elmsdale area.

Provided sponsorship and administrative support to the “East Hants Tourism Forum”, hosted by the municipality on February 26.

Sponsored the Central Nova Tourism Conference in Truro and spoke about Hants County Tourism during the luncheon.

Business Development

Provided business retention & expansion support to 21 businesses, including 57 referrals to partners and colleagues.

Reached an agreement with the Municipality of East Hants for cooperation on Business Retention and Expansion in East Hants.

Helped a local company secure a significant business deal with a Japanese multinational, through the BR+E program and the support of many partners.

Provided four workshops titled, “So You Want to Start a Business” throughout the year. Sixty individuals participated and learned how to start a business in Hants County.

Piloted a small business coaching program. Nine small business owners/managers each received three one-on-one coaching sessions from an Acadia University Business Professor.

Co-hosted (with the West Hants Chamber of Commerce) the annual “shop local” Christmas fair at the Downtown Windsor Mall.

Developed (through the Hants BR+E Local Action Team) an action plan in response to the global economic slowdown, and a partnership approach to supporting displaced workers.

Worked with the Job Resource Centre to organize job loss workshops in response to layoffs in Hants West.

Community Development

Helped the Windsor Day Care secure $675,000 in funding for a major expansion.

Helped the Windsor Business Enhancement Society secure a grant for its waterfront summer concert series.

Provided local support for the province’s Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia project, including presentations in Windsor and Elmsdale for municipal councilors and staff.

Facilitated a meeting of the “Fort Edward Committee”, resulting in a short-term action plan to pursue development at the National Historic Site.

Hosted a Downtown Revitalization discussion (with the Town of Windsor, WBES and WHCC), followed by an “Inspiration and Action Session” for key stakeholders in Windsor’s “Downtown & Waterfront Revitalization” on February 9.

Supported KSEED’s successful 2nd Annual 84th Regiment Homecoming.

Helped KSEED access funding for the 225th Anniversary of the Founding of Douglas Township being held in Kennetcook.

Participated in a visit by Premier Rodney MacDonald to the Shubenacadie Tin Smith Shop Museum.

The Cheverie Salt Marsh Restoration Site completed its interpretive centre plan and initial trail construction.

The Hants County Arts Council hosted its second Annual “Festival of Art”.

Began partnership discussions with the Shubenacadie Canal Commission toward long-term tourism and business development along the Hants County section of the Canal system.

Secured $15,000 in funding from the Department of Tourism (Heritage Division) for phase one of the Planters 250th Anniversary project.

Helped “Hockeyland” plan a public meeting in Windsor to discuss the facility’s future location.

Helped the Walton & Area Development Association secure funding from the Municipality of East Hants, Nova Scotia Economic Development, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and then use this funding to complete a “Walton & Area Development Plan”.

Wrote a newspaper article on securing summer student funding and provided advice to a number of community groups on their funding applications for 2009.

Developed a Summary of Non-profit Funding programs available in 2009 and distributed the document in print as well as on the hantscounty.com website.

Helped the Brooklyn Civic Centre submit a funding proposal to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Through the Windsor Community Inclusion Committee helped connect people with disabilities to community activities.

Helped The Place Near and Far Art Gallery secure funding to host an art competition to stimulate awareness of East Hants communities and history.

Assisted with the initiation of the Community Halls Cooperation Project which has resulted in cooperative projects and joint marketing for participating halls.

Advocacy

The Hants RDA and all four municipal councils wrote to the Premier regarding the importance of continued railway service from Halifax to Hantsport. Deputy Premier Angus MacIssac replied that government is aware of the issue and sees connections to the Atlantic Gateway Project.

Wrote to Minister Peter MacKay regarding decision-making delays at ACOA.

Ryan MacNeil was selected to chair the planning committee for a joint “Population Policy Forum” between the province’s RDAs, Chambers of Commerce, and UNSM.

Provided support and advice to consultants working on a report to prevent the closure of Hantsport School.

Co-hosted a presentation on the Bay of Fundy Tidal Energy Project with the Hantsport & Area Business Association and Minas Basin Pulp & Power.

Participated in the provincial government’s “Let’s Talk Tourism” session in Windsor, and raised the issues of road conditions on the Hants Shore and the need for a Bay of Fundy Tourism Plan.

Helped organize an announcement in Elmsdale by Premier MacDonald and Minister Scott regarding the Nova Scotia Industrial Expansion Fund.

Ran a local public relations campaign to provide information about Hants County and the economic slowdown.