Blog

Six Lessons for Improving Economic Development Collaboration across the Urban-Rural Divide

This guest blog was provided by Danielle Collins a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Local Economic Development Master’s Program and currently Labour Market Research Coordinator at the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

Ontario is becoming more urban, but rural communities face pressure to stimulate economic growth. Resources and political authority tend to be concentrated in cities, challenging rural areas to create innovative economic development strategies. Ontario policymakers are shifting their thoughts toward collaborative regional approaches, where rural communities could have greater access to expertise and resources. But this approach will require buy-in and support from both cities and rural Ontario. How can we bridge the urban-rural divide to ensure regional collaboration takes place – and is beneficial to all?

• Six ways to improve urban-rural collaboration:
• Promote a regional mindset
• Increase awareness and education of rural challenges
• Identify leaders and champions
• Foster inclusivity and integration
• Formalize partnerships
• Consider co-location to improve coordination

Read The Higher ED Blog to see how Niagara Region and Windsor-Essex are improving urban-rural collaboration.