Hants RDA rolls out string of successes

Despite a year saddled with economic recession, the Hants Regional Development Authority shared many success stories at an annual meeting in Mt. Uniacke June 3.

Executive Director Ryan MacNeil said a positive turning point for the Hants RDA was evident this year with a greater strategic and more professional plan in place. “We’ve changed our internal structure and we have really found focus on what’s important for Hants County,” he said. “We’re seen as a connector in the community. “It’s nice to find some tangible way to help a business out,” MacNeil said. “This RDA has come a long way. You can’t help every business, but it’s nice to have those wins.”

Two major successes for the Hants RDA were noted through facilitation of Dr. Abbey Kirumira’s Biomedica Diagnostics and of Wallace Point Fjords, which Kathy Monroe and Nancy Barmore run. Also, achievements in community/business developments, regional promotion and advocacy are mentioned in the Hants RDA’s Annual Review.

Provided leadership

As well, RDAs across Nova Scotia were recognized recently internationally for the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program aiding local business developments through a theory that states most job creation will emerge from existing business. “We’re really excited we have been able to provide some leadership with this (BRE) program,” MacNeil noted. “The Hants RDA was one of the first six in the province to start this. Now Newfoundland and New Brunswick are looking to adopt the model. “It has been a tough year, with over 200 careers affected in Hants County because of the impact of the U.S. economy being much deeper than expected, but when the country puts out of this, Hants County is going to surge ahead,” MacNeil noted. “We are getting ready so we can be aggressive. We’ve got some neat projects planned for next year.”

Work to forge additional local links

The Hants RDA will be working to go internationally and attract new immigrants to the area; to begin implementing a new tourism strategy; to increase the number of businesses worked with from 36-48; and to expand or build a new industrial park in Hants County by organizing a feasibility study, MacNeil said. “The biggest challenge we’ll tackle this year is to build up a relationship with the four local municipalities.”

The RDA has come a long way with the Municipality of East Hants over the last year and plans to build on this partnership more in the coming year, MacNeil noted. “We know this is where lots of our potential lies (in forming strong municipal relations.) “The Hants RDA proves a value by helping this community connect,” he said. “Still, we spent a lot of the night June 3 thanking the clients and partners we work with because none of this (the successes) would have happened if it was only us.”