County of Wetaskiwin council heard a detailed report on the Joint Economic Development Initiative’s plans for the 2020 to 2023 time period during the general council meeting Nov. 5.
Director of Economic Development Joan Miller presented the organization’s strategic plan to council.
“Each year the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) Board of Directors participates in a Strategic Planning Session, along with Council and other representatives from the partner municipalities, to identify and/or reaffirm the organization’s goals and priorities,” stated an agenda memo for council. “This year, JEDI’s Annual Strategic Planning Session took place on October 9, 2019.
“At the Strategic Planning session, the Director of Economic Development, Joan Miller, provided an overview of the activities that have taken place in the past year in relation to 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.
“This year marks the fourth year of JEDI’s 2016-2020 Strategic Plan therefore the goals and objectives were compared and measured to total organization performance over the life of the four-year plan. During the Strategic Planning session, the “housekeeping” updates to the plan were reviewed and approved as presented. The “housekeeping” updates included the addition of a chart explaining the four-year Strategic Planning process, minor rewording with regards to the cost of industrial land, updates to the names of government agencies & ministries and updated statistics.
“At the Strategic Planning session, the vision, mission, target markets, goals, objectives and strategies were reviewed, and a new plan has been written for the next four years.”
The memo noted some changes have been approved to JEDI’s strategic plan. “A summary of the significant changes is as follows:
“Performance indicators: In review of the purpose of a Strategic Plan, it was agreed that the area that outlined the
“Performance Indicators in the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, should be omitted from the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan as they are more suited to a Tactical Business Plan.
“The Performance Indicators have been removed and going forward will be included in the Tactical Business Plan to be created by the JEDI Director of Economic Development, reviewed with the JEDI Management Team, updated as required and then presented to the JEDI Board of Directors for their approval. A report on the progress of the Tactical Business Plan will be presented to the JEDI Board of Directors at the end of each year.
“The use of a Tactical Business Plan versus performance indicators will provide for ease of adjustments according to market trends and changes in available resources or opportunities.
“Mission statement: The mission statement was reviewed, discussion ensued, and it was decided that it should be reworded as follows:
“The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) is a collaborative regional partnership that fosters sustainable growth for existing and prospective industrial business.”
“Target markets: JEDI’s Target Markets were reviewed and it was decided that the Agriculture statement would be revised as follows: Agricultural Production & Processing, A statement was added about value-added agriculture as follows:
“Alberta has an expanding value-added agricultural products sector. In 2018, sales of Alberta’s processed food and beverage industry were $14.9 billion making it Alberta’s second largest manufacturing industry on a revenue basis. Meat product manufacturing accounts for more than one-half of the sector’s sales. This sector includes plant protein such as hemp.” – source “Alberta Government- 2019 Highlights of the Alberta Economy.”
“Two statements were added regarding grains and oilseeds to reflect the new opportunities presented by the G3 Canada Limited grain terminal.”
Councilors unanimously approved the JEDI 2020 to 2023 strategic plan.
JEDI budget
Councilors also heard a report on JEDI’s 2020 budget.
“The Joint Economic Development Initiative’s (JEDI) 2020 Operating Budget reflects the costs of the resources required to implement the organization’s current Strategic Plan. The proposed 2020 JEDI Operating Budget has been provided for Council’s consideration.
“In light of a possible reduction in provincial funding to municipalities in 2020, JEDI staff endeavored to keep the 2020 Operating Budget at a 0% increase in Municipal contributions from 2019.
Based on the proposed budget, the annual requisitions for each of the two municipal partners will be as follows:
County of Wetaskiwin (85.2%)= $ 242,990.40
Town of Millet (14.8%)= $ 42,209.60
Total $285,200.00
“JEDI currently has $297,225.67 in operating reserves. The 2020 Operating Budget reflects a transfer of $15,000 from JEDI Reserves for the completion of special projects such as, an investment readiness program, updated labour report or other projects that may occur in the coming year.”
Councilors unanimously approved the budget and transfer.