Almaguin Highlands Economic Development Partnership Committee (AHED)

Terms of Reference ~  2012

 

AHED Vision

 

The Vision of AHED is to enhance the quality of life for the Almaguin Highlands citizens and visitors through encouragement of economic development

 

Mission

 

The mission of AHED is to facilitate and share information and resources within the participating communities in the Almaguin Highlands.

These include: Armour, Burk’s Falls, Callander, Chisholm, East Ferris, Joly, Kearney, Machar, Magnetawan, McMurrich/Monteith, Nipissing Perry Port Loring, Powassan, Restoule, Ryerson, South River, Strong, Sundridge and Whitestone.

 

Purpose

• Provide a forum for economic development and resources within the participating communities of the Almaguin Highlands
• Provide a forum for exchange of ideas, solutions, best practices
• Provide encouragement and support for projects/proposals that bring economic benefits
• Communicate the group’s activities to the public
• Promote awareness of AHED
• Facilitate growth of partnerships

 Goals and Objectives

• Promote awareness and economic growth in the Almaguin Highlands
• Promote awareness of AHED
• Achieve region wide participation
• Have regular open monthly meetings
• Host periodic educational seminars
• Communicate committee activities to the public through regular reporting of minutes and programs in the media

 Participants

 

The Committee shall consist of a broad representation and may include participants from

Municipalities, Industry, Commerce, Education, Services, Economic Development agencies and any other interested parties / individuals.

 

Participant Expectations

Participants shall:

• Practice due diligence at all times
• Attend meetings as called by the Chair
• Present individual business, industry or agency point of view 
• Present summary of corporate initiatives, accomplishments and perspectives
• Contribute to decision-making
• Identify and promote funding opportunities
• Promote the AHED Partnership Committee
• Share information and ideas among participants

  Subcommittees

 

May be established as needed

 

Chair person

• Fill the role of primary spokesperson for AHED Partnership Committee / and or designated committee member with expertise
• Plan and facilitate meetings
• Develop meeting plans and agendas; considering any members input

 Secretary

• Record, store and distribute minutes and communications
• Maintain AHED Distribution List.

 

Background & Accomplishments:

 

AHED was formed in Nov. 2005 in follow up to the Almaguin Highlands Strategic Plan which gathered and provided increased knowledge of the region for the promotion of continuing prosperity here.  Through meeting once a month to share information, municipal, individual and business members have been able to improve and better link their separate economic development initiatives.  Members have become better connected to regional growth and populations and have also cooperated as a network on several beneficial projects:

 

Connect Almaguin ~ between meetings AHED members effectively network through their secretariat and directly about projects brought up at monthly meetings ~ members send and receive relevant information from Ministries, Agencies, community projects and events, to share with their respective organizations.  From propelling economic development interns being hired to focus on shared initiatives to funding forums, bringing partners together has proven effective for AHED.

 

Showcase Almaguin ~ one-day conferences have been organized biennially to feature economic and community development initiatives of a particular focus.  (eg. 2007: Trails, 2011: Tourism).  Presentations by relevant regional and provincial organizations, a tradeshow and round-table discussions / workshops have resulted in great networking opportunities and stimulated growth for participants and the region.

 

Carpool Almaguin ~ launched in 2009 and continued through AHED members, this project provides an on-line connection system and parking lots in 10 Almaguin municipalities through which Almaguin residents can carpool. As a result, access to employment and educational opportunities in particularly major centres surrounding our rural areas has been improved and both transportation costs and carbon footprints have been reduced.

 

Almaguin.org ~ In 2006 this website was established for information about the region of East Parry Sound by a business member. It provides internet media access to AHED via posting approved meeting minutes and documents such as the Showcase Almaguin report as an in-kind donation.

 

Regional Trails Mapping and Signage Project ~ through 2009-2011 a project of creating and installing effective and consistent signage and associated mapping for trails and trails systems across our region was spearhead by Discovery Routes, an AHED member.  Partners brought together largely through AHED networking included National and regional funders, municipalities and a variety of trails organizations active in East Parry Sound.

 

AHED Minutes