The creation of a new $25 million Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund is part of the government’s response to the recommendations of the report of Miramichi Prosperity Task Force, Premier Bernard Lord announced today.
At a business breakfast meeting hosted by the Greater Miramichi Chamber of Commerce, Lord delivered the government response to the task force report.
“This announcement represents our commitment to the people the Miramichi region in working together to building for the future and creating greater prosperity and opportunity for the region,” Lord said.
The 10-member task force was given a mandate in October 2003 to develop a long-term action plan to address the economic challenges facing the Miramichi region. The task force presented its report, containing 16 recommendations, to the government on March 8, 2004.
Of the 16 recommendations presented to government by the task force, 14 will be implemented in the coming weeks, while the other two will be taken into consideration.
The $25 million Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund, which will be administered by the Regional Development Corporation, will provide financial support to development projects in the region for a period of five years beginning May 1, 2004.
The Miramichi and Kent Community Economic Development Agencies (CEDAs) will assist in the delivery of these new initiatives which will be considered for funding under four themes: diversification; education and training; research and development; and strategic infrastructure.
“Investing in jobs and prosperity is a key priority of this government,” Lord said. “The action plan will help the Miramichi region overcome the many challenges it faces to put in place a solid foundation from which to create greater opportunity,” .
Government Response to Recommendations of the Miramichi Prosperity Task Force
1. The Province of New Brunswick will establish the Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund (MREDF), a special fund designed to support economic development initiatives in the region. The $25 million fund is to be invested over a five-year period and managed by the Regional Development Corporation (RDC).
The fund will provide assistance to community-driven initiatives in support of the four major themes: diversification; education & training; research and development; and strategic infrastructure
2. Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, in co-operation with the Regional Development Corporation, Department of Tourism & Parks and Business New Brunswick, will develop a regional promotion strategy, as part of their respective strategic plans. The initial focus will be the promotion of success stories, highlight the assets of the region and the benefits of conducting business in the region geared to attracting new investors. The strategy will include ongoing communications activities linked to the implementation of the Miramichi Action Plan.
3. The Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund will have the flexibility to offer contributions for both new projects and expansions of existing private-sector companies that support the objectives of the Miramichi Regional Economic Development Initiative.
4. Creating a competitive fiscal and business environment is one of the government’s key building blocks in Greater Opportunity: New Brunswick’s Prosperity Plan.
The Province of New Brunswick will ensure it has a competitive taxation regime to attract new job-creating, investment and reward economic success as outlined in the government’s Prosperity Plan Greater Opportunity: New Brunswick’s Prosperity Plan 2002-2012.
5. The Miramichi Regional Economic Development Fund can provide investment for projects which would generate employment.
Business New Brunswick, in cooperation with Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, will work closely with key partners including public-sector agencies to increase the accessibility of capital to businesses in the region.
6. Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, in co-operation with RDC and the Department of Training and Employment Development and other public-sector agencies and departments, will work closely to further support youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
7. Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, in co-operation with RDC, Business New Brunswick, Department of Training and Employment Development, will ensure human resources are made available to outlying communities to support economic development in the region.
8. The Department of Tourism & Parks will work closely with other partners, including RDC and two local Community Economic Development Agencies, to implement initiatives from integrated tourism strategies supported by the tourism-industry sector and the Department of Tourism & Parks.
9. Funding will be made available for the implementation of the initiatives from the strategies.
10. The Department of Tourism & Parks, in co-operation with RDC and public-sector agencies, will work together to encourage the development of a first-class tourism attraction to attract tourists to the Miramichi region.
11. The Province of New Brunswick, through Business New Brunswick, RDC, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, shall develop a special approach to encourage the development of clustering in the knowledge industry sector with efforts devoted to existing companies and businesses in the region.
12. NBCC-Miramichi, Department of Training and Employment Development, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent will work closely to set up training activities for individuals currently employed based on industry and individual requirements. Such training can be made available online and after-hour sessions for individuals to remain active in the labour market.
13. The Quality Learning Agenda is one of the government’s cornerstone of Greater Opportunity: New Brunswick’s Prosperity Plan.
The Province of New Brunswick, through the Department of Education, RDC, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent and other provincial departments and agencies, will work to facilitate greater access to university courses in the region.
14. The Province of New Brunswick, through RDC, Business New Brunswick, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, will promote the establishment of an Applied Research and Innovation Centre at NBCC-Miramichi.
15. Based on viability and the appropriate technologies, the Province of New Brunswick, through Business New Brunswick, RDC, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent, will take measures to encourage private-sector providers to make broadband services more readily availability to the remaining households and businesses in the region.
The Province of New Brunswick, through Business New Brunswick, RDC, Enterprise Miramichi and Enterprise Kent will also develop a strategy to encourage the use of new information technologies and broadband services.
16. The Province of New Brunswick, through RDC, will work closely with other agencies and local organizations to continue to address the issue of multifunctional youth centres.
