On Our Way to Endless Opportunity On Our Way to Endless Opportunity | Page 2

Executive Summary
Background
The Onoway and Lac Ste. Anne County Partnership was initiated in 2016 between the Town of Onoway and
Lac Ste. Anne County to take advantage of working together to enhance economic development opportunities in
the region. In 2018, the Partnership formed a Steering Committee to create an economic development roadmap to
help to support business development within the region.
Economic Development Roadmap
The following Economic Development Roadmap is based on
broad community input, including on-line surveys, one-on-one
meetings with business leaders, presentations and input from
business associations and community organizations and planning
sessions with elected officials in the partnership communities.
This input was then verified through an open house where
participants confirmed (or amended) the research obtained
through the public consultation process.
Taking all the information gathered from the surveys, business
visits and meetings with Council and staff, four key themes
emerged that encompass the challenges that were identified.
Relationships. Council and administration
were keen on improving regional cooperation.
However, relationships can go farther than that.
It is also important to develop good working
relationships with business and industry
within the region, as well as to enhance the
relationships within municipal offices and
between the various departments to ensure
economic development has a voice.
Rules & Regulations. Some felt that the rules
and regulations were not applied equally and
fairly, and some of the overarching planning
documents could use input from an economic
development perspective to enhance an “open
for business” message.
Promotion. Many felt that the Onoway/
Lac Ste. Anne Region was the province’s
“best kept secret.” Many were not aware of the
exciting business ventures that were already
underway, and the potential for many more
exciting announcements in the near future.
Infrastructure. Before any economic
development can succeed, the region needs
the appropriate infrastructure. The region is
blessed with excellent highway infrastructure,
but requires improved internet capabilities, and
shovel ready land to accommodate any new
development.
2 | On Our Way to Endless Opportunity: An Economic Roadmap
Based on the public engagement themes, there
are fourteen basic actions that we recommend the
Partnership undertake in the next three years:
Year One
1. Create a communications strategy
to promote and communicate the economic
development plan
2. Know and understand the local business
community while making the most of your
regional partnerships
3. Implement business-friendly policies
and procedures
4. Designate a single point of economic
development contact
5. Support local business organizations
6. Create a business start-up kit
7. Promote entrepreneurship development and
training opportunities
8. Create a regional business directory so that
residents and other businesses can source
goods and services locally
Year Two
9. Create a business-oriented web site
to market the advantages of the region
10. Identify shovel-ready development
opportunities that provide a spectrum
of land and development opportunities
for a range of business sizes and types
11. Advocate for high speed internet and promote
existing infrastructure
Year Three
12. Host a tour of the region to showcase
the activity, amenities and possible growth
opportunities to realtors, land developers and
investors
13. Promote value-added diversified agriculture
14. Promote tourism opportunities to
residents and visitors