Developing investment strategy for region

The Downeast Group will work with local business and community stakeholders to conduct an assessment of the regional economy’s current environment.

A statement released by Downeast said it would identify priority sectors for future growth and craft specific, high potential investment initiatives and projects to guide the ADEDA’s growth agenda for the next five years.

Assisting Downeast with the assignment will be Jupia Consultants Inc. of Moncton, and Eaton Peabody Consulting Group of Augusta, Me. The group has collaborated on other projects in recent months and brings a truly ‘Atlantica’ perspective and reach to the planning process.

The Annapolis-Digby region has a diverse range of assets and strengths upon which the new strategy will be built, said Downeast.

These include opportunities in tourism, natural resources, information technology, geomatics, alternative energy and transportation, among others. An economic assets map will be developed for the region and should be completed in late August.

The full strategy is scheduled to be completed by year’s end.

Downeast Group specializes in economic development consulting and is led by Greg Brown of Lake Echo, a veteran of the development field in Atlantic Canada.

Brown was instrumental in the creation of the Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities in 1999.

He has contributed to policy development for economic development in Nova Scotia on a number of fronts, in particular the creation of RDAs and support for a regional development process.