Economic Development Strategy

Executive Summary

Creating a formalized Economic Development Plan is a strategic priority of Council, identified in the 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan. The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement on the general scope of work for a five-year (2026-2031) Economic Development Plan, prior to issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain professional consulting services, anticipated in mid-December 2024 and closing in late January to allow for time after the holidays for submissions.

The scope of work includes background research and analysis, community engagement, and plan formulation. The successful proponent will have extensive experience in economic development plan formulation, including community engagement, and the ability to deliver a clear set of priorities and tangible actions that are feasible and will advance community objectives towards the support and growth of a sustainable and resilient local economy.

Background

Over the past two decades, the City of Langford has earned a reputation as a forward-thinking and innovative city in terms of economic development. Known for its ability to efficiently navigate bureaucratic processes and cut red tape, Langford has demonstrated a proactive approach to attracting business investments from technology companies, restaurants, retailers, and hotels.

In addition to its innovative strategy for attracting businesses, the City of Langford was the first municipality in British Columbia to implement a one-time business license processing fee. This approach has positioned Langford as an appealing city for business operations. Consequently, Langford has been recognized nationally, receiving accolades such as “Best City for Work” and “Most Resilient City” from BC Business Magazine in consecutive years.

In 2017, the City worked collaboratively on an economic development initiative with Sc’ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay) to accomplish a historic land swap agreement with the Nation that created jobs, greenspace protection, and First Nation Prosperity. Building on this important work with local First Nations, in 2020 the City collaborated with the Malahat Nation, and the District of Sooke to form a marketing collective (SpiritLoop.ca) aimed at promoting tourism experiences and businesses across all three communities. Due to its success and interest from other communities, the collective will expand in 2025 to include many other communities, and First Nations across the South Island.

Looking ahead, Langford aims to build on this solid foundation by formalizing a strategy that incorporates both traditional economic development activities and new initiatives such as community wealth building (which focuses on creating and retaining local ownership and wealth within a community, among other things).

Given the challenging economic climate, Langford must leverage its strong foundation to identify strengths, opportunities, and challenges for local businesses, identify and adopt best practices for investment readiness, and implement talent attraction and retention strategies.

A Formalized Plan

Creating an Economic Development Plan is a strategic priority of Council, identified in the 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan.

Proposed Objectives

• Engage residents, the local business community, and key partners on their existing successes, challenges, and priorities, while also identifying opportunities and ways to mitigate potential threats.
• Develop a vision for economic development in Langford that is innovative, sustainable, diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
• Establish economic development goals, strategic directions, and recommendations that balance economic, environmental, and social objectives with the fundamental aim of attracting investment, fostering business expansion and retention, and hiring and retaining talent to the community.
• Support Council decision-making and service delivery, through the creation of an action plan, which identifies priorities, phasing (short, medium, and long-term), roles, and relative costs.

Commentary

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain professional consulting services for the development of a five-year (2026-2031) Economic Development Plan with the following general scope of work:

Scope of Work

The successful proponent should undertake research, public engagement, and analysis for the development of the Economic Development Plan. The City of Langford expects the proponent to apply the lens of innovation and equity when developing its proposal and is encouraged to propose alternative approaches or activities which may benefit the City.

Background Research and Analysis will include:

• Review and evaluate the City’s current policies, plans, and practices as they relate to Economic Development, including the Official Community Plan Ideas Paper, 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan, 5-Year Tourism Strategy, Permissive Tax Exemption Policy, etc. The Successful proponent is also expected to review and evaluate the City’s current Business Licensing program.
• Gather baseline information on current economic sectors in Langford, including reviewing business license data, as well as demographic information and the community profile as it relates to economic development in Langford. This information will be used to develop an economic situational analysis, including strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results (SOAR analysis).
• Identify and research current trends and best practices in local government economic development programs. This includes areas such as community wealth building, promoting equity and inclusion, enhancing resilience and sustainability, as well as business and talent attraction and retention.
• During this phase, the successful proponent will need to devise a Workplan that outlines the background research required as well as a comprehensive Community Engagement Strategy. The engagement strategy must align with the City of Langford Public Engagement Strategy which will be provided to the successful proponent.

Communications and Engagement

• It is expected that the successful proponent will engage with key partners including: BC Economic Development Association, West Shore Developers Association, Langford hotels, the West Shore and Greater Victoria Chambers of Commerce, Vancouver Island South – Film and Media Commission, Royal Roads University (including the lead for the West Shore Campus project to ensure all institutions are included), municipal staff engaged in economic development, as well as business owners and leaders in key sectors of the Langford economy.
• The successful proponent will be responsible for ensuring the Communications and Engagement Strategy is aligned with the City’s Public Engagement Strategy, which will be shared with the Successful Proponent upon award of the RFP.
• It is expected that a Communication and Engagement Strategy will include, at a minimum, three methods of engagement (i.e., small group, large group and online) over two phases.
• It is expected that the successful proponent will identify preferred communications and creative and strategic public engagement methods in their proposal.

City staff and Council engagement will include:

• One Council workshop on different economic development approaches, best practices, and trends, as well as an overview of the City's current Economic Development program.

• One inter-departmental staff workshop on the draft Plan.

• Two Council presentations on the draft and final Plan.

• The successful proponent will have access to the City’s communications tools, such as “Let’s Chat Langford” (the City’s online public engagement platform) and social media channels. The City will provide administrative support for advertising, engagement platform input and management, coordinating venues, and other supports as needed.

• At the conclusion of this phase, the successful proponent must develop an engagement summary, including a detailed analysis of data collected through the various engagement methods to be shared with the City. The successful proponent will share their approach to data analysis for transparency and accountability.

Draft Economic Development Plan will include:

• A draft Economic Development Plan will be completed by the successful proponent and reviewed with the project team, senior management, and Mayor and Council for comment and revisions prior to delivery of the final Plan.

It is expected, at a minimum, that the draft Economic Development Plan will contain the following:

• Executive Summary.
• Introduction (e.g., definitions, community profile, overview of the planning process, linkages to existing plans and practices, situational analysis).
• Community Engagement Summary (e.g., overview of communications and engagement activities, key engagement findings).
• Community Vision/Values Statements.
• Goals/Strategic Directions/Recommendations.
• Implementation Plan/Action Plan which identifies priorities, phasing (short, medium, and long-term), roles, and relative costs.

It is expected that the Economic Development plan will address the following topics:

• Business expansion and retention (e.g., identifying competitive advantages, investment readiness, types of incentives, financing, and resources).
• Talent acquisition and retention, (e.g., identifying quality-of-life investments such as affordable housing, transportation infrastructure and community amenities, fostering partnerships in education and training).
• Business investment (e.g., targeting key industries and sectors, creating incentives, investment readiness).
• Building local and intergenerational wealth that may be relevant in Langford’s context (e.g., cooperatives, employee ownership trusts, community land trusts, locally owned businesses).
• Advancing equity and inclusion (e.g., identifying and removing barriers to meaningful participation in the economy).
• Enhancing sustainability and resilience (e.g., planning for climate resilience, green infrastructure, social procurement).

Final Economic Development Plan

• Incorporating feedback on the draft Plan, the successful proponent must finalize the Economic Development Plan into a user friendly and visually appealing and accessible document.
• 10 bound, hard copies of the final report will be submitted.

Financial Implications

The approved budget for the Economic Development Plan is $85,000.

Legal Implications

None noted.

Strategic Plan Initiatives

3a | DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
An Economic Development Plan will support existing businesses, attract needed talent and work to attract new investment into the community

Options

Option 1
THAT Council endorse the Economic Development Plan RFP scope of work as presented.

OR Option 2

THAT Council endorse the Economic Development Plan RFP scope of work
with the following modifications:
a. _______________________
b. _______________________
c. _______________________

Submitted By

SUBMITTED BY: Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development

Concurrence:

• Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
• Matthew Baldwin, RPP, MCIP, Director of Development Services
• Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Climate Change
• Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
• Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
• Marie Watmough, Deputy Director of Corporate Services
• Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
• Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer