Sunday, July 26, 2009

DEFINING THE OPPORTUNITY!

*****TRANSFORMING CLIENTS INTO CITIZENS*****

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!
In strict development terms location is one of the most important factors to be considered in identifying, planning and/or pursuing development initiatives.
For purposes of this discussion, I have chosen Shelburne County as our development location. Remember this choice, as it will help us define development options, strategic opportunities we can create and tactical liaisons we can usefully cultivate in our quest to optimize the socio-economc transformation of our communities.
I could have chosen the Town of Shelburne, Eastern Shelburne County, South Western Nova Scotia, or the South Shore of Nova Scotia. It is not my intent to justify my choice at this time. However, I hope the many reasons for my choice will become self-evident as we develop this development forum..... the reasons for my location selection are entirely driven by what I see as the most compelling set of development opportunities for folks in this area. I invite you to join me in this quest by sharing your views through your comments to this forum. It should be an interesting journey.
SOME BASICS
Within Shelburne County, specific locations produce distinct opportunities that may or may not exist in adjacent areas within Shelburne County. For example, Clarks Harbour's opportunities may be different from those found in the Town of Shelburne, Lockeport or Barrington. Opportunities within the Municipality of Shelburne may be unique to that community within Shelburne County.
The strength to be found in a development approach that includes the entire county, stems from the ability to encourage the complementary development of opportunities in each of our communities. the synergy so produced makes development cooperation more than a zero sum game and the resulting benefits are truly more than the sum of one plus one! Moreover, opportunities developed in Clarks Harbour often can be optimized or enhanced by efforts in partner communities within Shelburne County.
Additionally, the smallness of our communities often limits our ability to seize or capitalize on opportunities we may identify. Banding together to forge development strategies and complementary investments makes us stronger, while proximity of our communities to each other generates a whole new level of opportunity to forge development initiatives, reduce costs, brand products and services and capture expanded markets.
Finally, cohesive approaches with common strategies may result in re-defined political sway in the provincial and federal halls of of power.
And so..... we begin the promised development journey.....

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a major challenge and that is to get everyone to work together for the common good.
The COC should be a uniting agent but they do not seem interested in this role especially when it comes to bringing in new players.One a man tired of working for others decided to start his own business from scratch. He made good product,marketed it very way giving his sales people an opportunity to earn based upon their effort and talent.The business was a success.The man was a former country boy from NS and the company was Fuller Brush.When we frown upon an idea we may well be sending another Fuller Brush elsewhere!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Your task is gigantic and will require the assistance of everyone.The socio-economic status,outward migration of our youth,immigration phobia,past history of ingrained political largesse and pork barrel politics are all challenges.The old money is gradually dwindling.Business are no longer able to enslave their customers.The town of Shelburne tries to masquerade as a retirement town.Well, these people want service which are disappearing from here.We have to accept change or disappear as a community.Somehow we have get credible people into local politics.It ia a time for only the most intelligent and honest which eliminates the incumbents of this day.Someone commented in another blog that the Chamber of Commerce wanted Comeau out.If so what did they gain?We need a newspaper that will report on the real woes and successes of the area.We have had a resource based economy but at present the fishery and forestry are on the fritz.The mess must be cleaned up before we can productively proceed.Everyone must be open to change and help one another. Amen.

Anonymous said...

The local Joe on the street is uneasy with new projects because he usually pays for it and gains nothing.We do not seem to attract many real movers and shakers. Terry Hawkins, lonely exception, has worked hard to create jobs and look at the criticism he has endured.Why is there an invisible iron curtain at Clyde River?
We seem so starved for progress that we do not even trust our neighbour.

Anonymous said...

I hope we're just going through the summer doldrums and the downer comments will perk up within the next few weeks. We've got lots going for us, and we have an experienced economist, development advisor, and honest businessman in charge of this blogspot. Looking forward to reading more of your info Ed and comments from your readers. Cheers!