Alberta’s Municipal Government Act (MGA) defines the way municipalities operate, including the services they offer, how they raise funds and more. The current MGA was introduced in the mid-1990s and was considered a model for municipal legislation in Canada. However, after nearly 20 years, it was determined the MGA should be revisited in order to meet the changing needs of Alberta’s communities. 

A couple of months ago, the Modernized Municipal Government Act (MGA) was introduced in the legislature. Municipal Affairs is travelling to 20 locations across Alberta in June and July to discuss the proposed changes to the MGA through public sessions. 

If you would like to provide input there are a couple of ways to get involved: by attending a public session or by providing written feedback. Visit the Municipal Affairs Website to let your voice be heard.

If you are planning to attend IEDC's 2016 Annual Conference September 25-28, please note the early bird deadline is this Friday July 15. Register today.

Canadian attendees have a special registration rate. The Canadian dollar is on par with the US dollar but you must register online to receive this rate and enter coupon code ANNUAL16 at the checkout. The on par pricing only applies to registration. After July 15 the registration increases by $140 CAD.

Register today for the next free training webinar in EDA's AlbertaBusinessCounts Program. 

In this webinar you will explore the many privacy and group sharing options within the AlbertaBusinessCounts platform. 

AlbertaBusinessCounts Training Webinar
Friday August 5, 2016
12:00 - 1:00 pm
FREE

Register here

We recommend you sign up for AlbertaBusinessCounts as it is an excellent tool for your business retention and expansion strategy.  It is designed to give your community a consistent method for gathering data needed to identify and analyze business needs at the local, regional and provincial level. Click here to see the communities who are using AlbertaBusinessCounts.

EDA holds the provincial master license for Executive Pulse, a software designed to collect and analyze data on existing industries in Alberta. A special licensing agreement enables EDA to make this software available to economic development organizations at a reduced price. 

Plan today to register for your next professional development opportunity with EDA's Community Economic Development Training Program (CEDTP). 

EDA is offering it's next online course through the University of Calgary designed to support and foster the development and growth of the business community. 

Our Business Retention and Expansion course will explain how the results of a strong BR&E strategy create a healthy and thriving business community which in turn provides a long term sustainable community foundation. Long-term BR&E programs are a means of connecting businesses with resources and opportunities that will improve their competitive position, market networks and ultimately their profitability.

EDA's Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E)

September 6 - October 4, 2016
Online
Register here.  

All of our 2016 courses are available for registration. Plan ahead.  

2016 CEDTP Course Calendar

As you know, our CEDTP training program is an excellent professional development opportunity for those in the field of economic development. Our program helps your competitive advantage by offering a variety of courses designed to deliver information on the best practices and established tools you can use to help your region thrive.

These courses are eligible for credits towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA. They can also be applied to your Ec.D designation.

#EDAOnline 

EDA is giving you an opportunity to be a $2500.00 sponsor of the 2016 Ministry Dinner. This is an excellent opportunity to promote your brand to key decision makers in the province. If you or any of your key contacts are interested in being involved please let me know at nancy.toombs@edaalberta.ca and I will give you the details of the sponsorship agreement. Once again we are pleased that Miller Thomson is the primary sponsor of this event.

We are taking registrations for the 2016 event which sold out last year. The 2016 Ministry Dinner gives the province's economic development professionals as well as key government decision makers the opportunity to share ideas, information and discuss potential partnerships. 

2016 EDA Ministry Dinner
Thursday October 27, 2015
Matrix Hotel, Prism Room and Amber Room
10640-100 Avenue, Edmonton

Cocktails: 5:00- 6:00 pm

Dinner: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Register here

By supporting the leadership role of economic developers, we also fortify their efforts to ensure the economic viability of their communities. 

The summer months are an excellent time to pursue professional development opportunities. 

EDA would like to remind you to book our Course for Elected Officials in your community. Simply email admin@edaalberta.ca and we can give you the details on how to arrange for this course.

In EDA's Course for Elected Officials, you will learn how business attraction works; how business retention works; and you'll also learn the steps economic development officers take to help to revitalize economies. 

We are also offering two Courses for Elected Officials this fall. Register early to avoid the waiting list:  

City of Airdrie, Council Chambers
Friday, September 16
9:00am - 4:00pm
Register here

St. Paul
Friday, October 21
9:00am - 4:00pm
Register here 

Be a champion economic development in your community! 

EDA's Annual Conference attracts over 400 local national and international experts in the field of economic development. Each year, we look for speakers to address a variety of topics related to current economic development issues. 

If you have relevant and unique topic that you would like to present then we would like to hear from you. 

Please read the Call for Conference Papers guidelines here. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2016.

EDA's Annual Conference is being held at the Banff Centre March 22-24, 2017. The theme is "Embracing Change; Creating Opportunity." Registration is open.

See you at the Conference. 

#EDA2017 

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) Economic Development Department is helping its business community get back on its feet after forest fires swept through the region last month. 

A Business Recovery Hotline has been established to gather information about immediate needs and provide access to various resources. In addition, the Hotline is processing emergency financial relief for small businesses. The Canadian Red Cross will be providing $1000 to each small business that meets basic eligibility criteria. This funding is made possible through generous donations to the Canadian Red Cross as a result of the Alberta Fires, affecting Fort McMurray and surrounding areas.

So far, the Wood Buffalo Business Recovery Hotline has validated 691 businesses totalling $691,000.  If your small business was impacted by the fires please call 1-855-RMWBBIZ (769-2249) to register and receive your payment. 

EDA is pleased to support its members at the RMWB. Economic developers play a critical leadership role in a community’s recovery process. EDA's Economic Disaster Recovery Program (EDRP) is being used as a valuable template for the RMWB's overall business and economic disaster recovery strategy. 

News Release

For immediate release

Emergency Relief Available for Small Businesses Affected by Fires in the Wood Buffalo Region

(Fort McMurray, AB – June 10, 2016) – Small Businesses in the Wood Buffalo region impacted by the fires will now have the opportunity to apply for some initial emergency financial relief.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) and Economic Developers Alberta (EDA), thanks to financial support from the Canadian Red Cross, will be providing $1000 to each small business that meets the eligibility criteria.

“Our businesses are resilient, but the wildfires have affected our community profoundly,” said Mayor Melissa Blake. “We know that they need financial assistance as they begin working through the recovery process, and I encourage all small business owners in the municipality to apply for this support.”

Financial relief for small business was identified as a key priority in the Business and Economic Disaster Recovery Plan, approved by Council on May 25, 2016. To receive the emergency relief funds, small businesses must phone the Wood Buffalo Business Recovery Hotline to register their business. Once registered, small businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will receive instructions on how to receive the $1000 of emergency relief.

Small businesses are able to register on the Wood Buffalo Business Recovery Hotline at 1-855-RMWB BIZ (1-855-769-2249) from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. To receive funding, businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria:

·         Register their business at the RMWB Business Recovery Hotline (1-855-RMWB BIZ).

·         Have an active RMWB business license.

·         Be located/headquartered in a RMWB community.

·         Be a small business – defined as having 50 employees or less, excluding contractors.

For further resources and information, visit www.choosewoodbuffalo.ca.

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Media inquiries: 

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
pio@rmwb.ca

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA)
Leann Hackman-Carty, EDA CEO
leann@edaalberta.ca

403-807-7746

I admit it. I am biased. I have a soft spot for economic developers. I have worked beside them, with them and for them for many years, and I still believe they are the best ones to lead economic recovery in their communities after a disaster hits.  When a natural disaster hits a community, whether it be a flood, tornado, hurricane or wildfire; the immediate response usually involves first responders like firefighters, paramedics, police, military and the Red Cross. They respond to the immediate crisis, and roles and responsibilities are very clear. The Emergency Operations Centre is set up, they are in charge, and nobody does anything unless they are directed to do so. They understand lives are at stake, and as a result, this type of response model is the most effective.  However, unfortunately, business is rarely, if ever, a participant in the Emergency Operations Centre. This needs to change. Their issues are critical as well. Getting them back to business means livelihoods are restored, and business and economic recovery efforts are accelerated. Which brings me to my point. When a disaster hits, there are a lot of community groups, including various business groups and government departments, that start to position themselves to lead business and economic recovery in the community. While they have an important role, none of them have the sole mandate. The only ones with a clear, direct mandate are local government, and the department or group that they fund to carry out economic development in their community. This group reports directly to Council, and Council reports directly to the electorate. They need to be the ones leading the efforts. It is a clear, simple governance model. All other groups report to their individual boards and/or memberships or directors. Very different.  Economic developers are trained in business retention and expansion; business and investment attraction; workforce development; opportunity identification and performance metrics. Increasingly they are also being trained in the area of business and economic recovery. They work with a range of stakeholders on a daily basis, and are able to align themselves with government, the private and non-profit sectors. As a result, they are the ones that need to be empowered to lead business and economic recovery in their community. They have the ultimate accountability.  I am excited about the opportunity for economic developers in Fort McMurray's business and recovery efforts. For the first time, I have seen an economic development department put together a plan, endorsed by Council, that puts them in the lead. We need to support them in their efforts, and encourage various stakeholders work to with them collaboratively in achieving their plan. While it won't be easy, it is a first, and important step. If successful, they will no doubt become a new best practice in how communities should respond to natural disasters in the future.