Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
4.5.1 Political Representation .............................................................................................................. 31 ! 4.5.2 Relevant Legislation and Policies ............................................................................................... 31 ! 4.5.3 Cochrane Board of Trade ........................................................................................................... 34 ! 5.0 SWOT Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 35 ! 6.0 Proposed Strategic Directions ............................................................................................................... 36 ! 6.1 Opportunity Alignment ..................................................................................................................... 37 ! 6.2 Key Direction 1 : Strengthen the Business Community ....................................................................... 39 ! 6.3 Key Direction 2 : Grow the Agricultural Sector .................................................................................. 39 ! 6.4 Key Direction 3 : Leverage Transportation Assets ............................................................................... 39 ! 6.5 Key Direction 4 : Promote Cochrane as a Great Place to Live ............................................................ 40 ! 6.6 Key Direction 5 : Maintain Tourism Infrastructure .............................................................................. 40 !
7.0 Strategic Plan Projects in Detail ............................................................................................................ 41 !
7.1 Key Direction 1 : Strengthen the Business Community ....................................................................... 41 ! 7.1.1 Hire a Qualified Economic Development Officer ...................................................................... 41 ! 7.1.2 Encourage Internet adoption by Local Businesses ....................................................................... 43 ! 7.1.3 Build Capacity at the Board of Trade .......................................................................................... 45 ! 7.1.4 Align the Strategic Directions of CTS and NOW with this Strategic Plan .................................... 46 ! 7.1.5 Explore the Feasibility of Targeted Manufacturing ...................................................................... 47 !
7.2 Key Direction 2 : Grow the Agricultural Sector .................................................................................. 48 ! 7.2.1 Centralize Resources to Support Improved Acreage Productivity ................................................ 49 ! 7.2.2 Improve Municipal Awareness of and Response to Agricultural Sector . ...................................... 51 ! 7.2.3 Promote Consumption of Local Agriculture Products ................................................................. 52 ! 7.2.4 Solicit and Promote Available Agricultural Land in Cochrane .................................................... 56 ! 7.2.5 Strengthen Collaboration with NeCN to Encourage Agricultural Production ............................... 57 ! 7.2.6 Explore Feasibility of a Greenhouse Adjacent to a Waste Heat Source ....................................... 57 !
7.3 Key Direction 3 : Develop a Transportation Strategy .......................................................................... 58 ! 7.3.1 Improve Highway 11 Assets ....................................................................................................... 58 ! 7.3.2 Maximize use of Airport ............................................................................................................. 62 ! 7.3.3 Continue to Advocate for Rail Service ........................................................................................ 64 !
7.4 Key Direction 4 : Promote Cochrane as a Great Place to Live ............................................................ 64 ! 7.4.1 Build on Prior Attraction Campaigns to Encourage Families to Live in Cochrane ........................ 65 ! 7.4.2 Consider all Ages when Improving Amenities ............................................................................ 68 ! 7.4.3 Improve Municipal Communication Efforts ................................................................................ 69 ! 7.4.4 Implement Seniors ’ Housing Project Plan ................................................................................... 72 !
7.5 Key Direction 5 : Maintain Tourism Infrastructure .............................................................................. 72 ! 7.5.1 Leverage the Cochrane Wonderfully Unexpected Brand ............................................................. 72 ! 7.5.2 Maintain and Enhance Current Tourism Infrastructure . ............................................................... 73 !
8.0 Implementation ..................................................................................................................................... 77 ! 8.1 Preliminary Timeline ......................................................................................................................... 78 ! 8.2 Possible Strategic Plan Implementation Models for the Town of Cochrane ........................................ 79 ! 8.3 Best Practices for Implementing Strategic Plans ................................................................................. 79 ! 8.4 Factors Influencing Strategic Orientation in Communities ................................................................. 81 ! Appendix A : Stakeholder Commitment Levels ............................................................................................. 82 ! Appendix B : Background Documentation Review ....................................................................................... 85 ! Appendix C : Details of Strengths , Weaknesses , Opportunities and Threats .................................................. 86 !
Strengths ................................................................................................................................................. 86 ! 2