PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

[ Data Collection and Dissemination | Education | Consultation services ]
[ Promoting and Prospecting | Community Economic Development ]


DATA COLLECTION & DISSEMINATION
Eastman Regional Development, Inc. collects information about the communities within the region and presents the data in the form of a Community Profile. Information on vacant industrial/commercial buildings, available industrial sites, business and investment opportunities, business trends, and community attitudes are also compiled. The Corporation then plays the role of an information broker and disseminates the information on request.
Community Profiles - Statistics on population, sewer and water, local tax rates, wages, existing businesses, schools, hospitals and other information useful to new residents, businesses or investors in the  community.

Investment Opportunities Catalogue - Information on lucrative investment opportunities, businesses for sale, joint ventures, equity investments, available buildings and industrial properties, etc.


Selected Characteristics - Statistics Canada information on demographics, income, occupations, comparative data for Manitoba, etc. It shows trends in population growth, occupations, etc.

 
EDUCATION
The Corporation organizes, co-ordinates and sponsors informational meetings, seminars, and conferences of an economic development nature. We also sponsor courses to help business people upgrade their skills. 

 
CONSULTATION SERVICES
Eastman Regional Development, Inc. provides business consultation services to business people, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations which are members of the Corporation. Non-members are charged a fee for service. The Corporation provides consultation services to market research and feasibility studies can also be undertaken by the staff. New and expanding businesses receive information and assistance in the preparation and implementation of their business plans, in their export development plans, in commercializing new inventions, identifying business opportunities, marketing strategies, identifying sources of financing, applying for government programs, and a wide variety of business services.

Eastman Regional Development, Inc. provides information on market trends, new ideas, marketing strategies, economic forecasts, government grants and loans, and wage subsidy/training programs.

We offer our member municipalities assistance in achieving their objectives in the following areas:

  1. Tourism promotion.
  2. Attracting and working with new businesses.
  3. Referring community-approved, non-profit projects, for our fund finding service.
  4. Use of the new Eastman Regional Economic Development Fund.
  5. Assistance with tax or service fee sharing agreements.
  6. Industrial Park development.
  7. Lobbying the Provincial Government on important issues to your municipality.
  8. Assistance on projects as requested.

 
PROMOTION & PROSPECTING
Eastman Regional Development, Inc. actively promotes the municipalities and the businesses within the region, their potential, and their opportunities within Manitoba and abroad. The Corporation prospects for new businesses and entrepreneurs which could benefit from being situated within the region; attends local, national, and international trade shows and promotes local businesses, communities and investment opportunities. The Corporation develops promotional materials for the region including booklets, brochures, and displays and works with communities on their promotional strategies. We are an active member of the Red River Trade Corridor initiative involving developers from North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba and has contacts around the globe.

 
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Eastman Regional Development, Inc. espouses a belief in community economic development - local residents, business owners, and municipal governments working together for the improvement of their own economic well-being. The ERDI plays the role of an educator, an organizer and an advisor to the local economic development groups in order to assist them in achieving this common objective.

The Corporation works with community groups, Chambers of Commerce and Community Development Corporations to do long term planning, to review the strengths and weaknesses of the community, to identify projects and to work with local individuals to carry out their plans. We find that dynamic communities can capitalize on their strengths and use them to their advantage to stimulate local development. Some impressive results of Community Economic Development have been:

  • The establishment of an Industrial Park to promote orderly growth and encourage industrial development in the community. 
  • The enhancement of infrastructure to expand tourism events and activities within the community. 
  • The development of a comprehensive community enhancement program to beautify the town. 
  • The launching of new community festivals to increase local pride in the community and to attract visitors into the community.