Economic Development
                     ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
What is Economic Development?
• Economic Development is programs, policies or activities that seek to improve the 
economic well-being and quality of life for a community.
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Economic Development Strategies
• Though economic development priorities vary, economic development strategies 
often aim for common, positive results, such as:
– Creating more jobs and more job variety
– Keeping businesses and getting new ones
– A better quality of life
– More people and businesses paying taxes
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Economic Development Strategies Cont.
• More productive use of property
• Promoting your community’s assets
• Making and selling more local products
• Getting more skilled workers living in your community
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Economic Development Practitioner
• Just like economic development is different for communities, so are the economic 
development practitioners that support them. Generally, an economic 
development practitioner plans, designs, and delivers economic development 
strategies.
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Role of Economic Development Practitioner
• Acts as an important connection between public and private sectors and the 
community.
• Takes part in economic development planning and sometimes leads or gives input 
into the policy-making process.
• Administers policy, programs, and projects.
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Who is Responsible for Economic Development 
work?
• Many people doing economic development work are economic development 
practitioners or Economic Development Officers or “EDOs” for short. 
• Some people don’t hold the official title in their job, but are doing economic 
development work all the time.
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Who is Responsible for Economic Development 
work cont.
• Local Indigenous and non-Indigenous 
governments
• Chambers of commerce
• Technology or business incubators
• Regional development agencies
• Community colleges, universities and 
research institutions
• Provincial and Federal governments
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Role in a community
• Leading economic development planning
• Working toward the community’s mandate or vision for economic development
• Supporting sector relationships
• Communicating and responding to economic development concerns and 
opportunities
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
What is an Economic Development 
Organization?
• Economic development organizations deliver programs, policies, and activities to 
improve the economic well-being of their communities.
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca
Community Support
• It is important to have the support of your community for everything from project 
plans and budgets, to marketing and promotion – your community members are 
very important. 
Source: www2.gov.bc.ca