Economic development action plan

Click here for a copy of the 2009/2010 action plan.

Successful, results driven, economic development is a community activity. All stakeholders play a vital role in the progress and development of the area. Stakeholders are defined as but not limited to the following:

• Government organizations: County, municipalities and townships
• Businesses: Company officers, management and workers
• Business support organizations: Chambers of Commerce, professional associations, government assistance
• Educational system: Universities, high schools, middle and primary schools
• Civic organizations: Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and others

Ashland Economic Development will provide strategic leadership, community strategy and daily implementation of the economic development work plan. AED will continually work to involve and coordinate all stakeholders to generate employment opportunities with above average earning potential.

Key components of the Economic Development work program include:

1. Organizational Development - Create and maintain legitimate community communication forums to accomplish the following:

i. Communicate the strategic importance of economic development to all stakeholders;

ii. Enable stakeholders to exchange ideas addressing the needs of the community;

iii. Actively engage and enlist stakeholder participation in the economic development work program.

2. Product Development - Develop strategies for infrastructure and human capital investments required to accomplish the following:

i. Prepare and improve community for development through infrastructure improvements, developing “shovel-ready” sites and spec buildings, identifying future industrial or business park areas and leveraging state and federal funds for product development.

ii. Position community to be preferred choice for business investment

3. Business Development – Develop programs to foster business growth and investment. Program emphasis will focus on the following areas:

i. Business expansion and retention

ii. Entrepreneurial initiative

iii. Business attraction and recruiting

4. Workforce Development with Key Knowledge Sector Partnerships– Establish policies and programs to accomplish the following:

i. Build skills of local workforce

ii. Foster partnerships between business, education and government

iii. Transfer academic knowledge to business applications for benefit of community