OMAFRA’s Rick Berthiaume, Manager of the Economic Development Programs Unit and Information Services was invited to present on the evolution of Ontario’s BR+E Program at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) annual conference. The session was titled “BRE: 30 Years of Community Economic Impact”, and included other presentations from Ohio State University and University of Minnesota Extension. During his presentation, Rick highlighted several topics including the updated 4-Stage BR+E process, the new coordinator manual and best practices with a focus on data collection and analysis.
The presentation concluded by highlighting six vital attributes of successful BRE projects. These include:
- well trained volunteers,
- commitment,
- buy-in and engagement from stakeholders,
- demonstrate importance of local business, accurately accessing the importance of local business community,
- building networks in the community,
- develop and implement action plans.
To see a copy of his presentation :
For more information on our BR+E program please visit our website .
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit organization that aims to provide leadership and excellence in economic development for communities, members and partners. With a membership of more than 4,500 individuals, this conference provides individuals with guidance on various specialized topics such as workforce development, international trade and business marketing, attraction, expansion and retention. IEDC’s 2016 annual conference was held in Cleveland Ohio this past September.
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