Strategy and Planning

Strategic Planning

OVERVIEW

This session is designed to assist economic development practitioners and volunteers in understanding and managing a strategic planning process. It addresses all planning components including visioning, goal, objective and target setting, and the role of research and public participation in developing and maintaining a current and up-to-date plan for the community, region, or organization.

^ Top of Page

Proposal Writing

OVERVIEW

This session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of proposal writing. The module examines the elements of effective proposal writing, including proper formatting, content development, satisfying program criteria, demonstrating economic and social benefits, addressing funding agency requirements, demonstrating the sustainability of the project’s output, consultant selection, monitoring and evaluation, and proposal follow up. The module also examines how to reference documentation and other sources of information used in preparing the proposal.

^ Top of Page

Project Management

OVERVIEW

This session is designed to provide volunteers and staff of not-for-profit agencies, municipal governments, community groups, and others with a working knowledge of project management. It brings forward the skills needed in relation to managing projects, constraints to consider when developing a project, and the five main stages of the project life-cycle. Content includes useful tools, sample processes, exercises, case studies, management plans and project planning tips.

There are three options for facilitation: basic, intermediate, and advanced. This allows for flexibility based on the needs and interests of participants.

^ Top of Page

Opportunity Identification

OVERVIEW

Closely tied to the Opportunity Management module, Opportunity Identification takes a hands-on approach to develop understandings of how to recognize opportunities in relation to economic development.

Information and activities are based around the major steps in, criteria needed, and strategies to engage with opportunity identification. It also focuses on identifying stakeholders to be involved in the process and determining the partners to be involved in feasibility studies and action planning. Highlights include brainstorming sessions tailored to participants’ needs and application of identifying necessary infrastructure.

^ Top of Page

Opportunity Management

OVERVIEW

This module may be used for several purposes and groups. First, it may be used as a training session so that participants, such as economic development staff, can get involved in a regional or local project to identify opportunities for economic development in their area. Secondly, it may also be used to guide participants through a local or regional opportunity management process designed to identify business and community development projects.

With an interactive lecture/discussion/activity style, this session provides an opportunity to learn the steps in opportunity management, to apply them according to Project Management and Performance Management principles, and to consider the relation to one’s own community development initiatives.

^ Top of Page