Report to Brockville City Council November 1, 2016 Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network Celia Medcalf, Member Erik Wang, Treasurer Ellie Bennett, Program Manager Recommended THAT Council recognize the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network (FABN) as the lead non-profit organization supporting the UNESCO designation of the region as a World Biosphere Reserve (BR), with the City being the first founding municipal partner in 2002. THAT Council approve a budget allocation of $12,000 for 2017 to support the FAB Go Local campaign. Purpose This report describes the important role that FABN plays in community development in the City and region, and how this is part of the Association of 18 BRs across Canada strengthening communities at a grassroots level. We share how FABN aligns with the Healthy Communities Vision and the City’s Official Plan. The value of FABN is described, along with a specific proposal to launch a Go Local campaign. In a nutshell: The FABN proposes to develop and implement a “Go Local” campaign that will promote sustainable community development within the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. Local businesses and organizations play crucial roles in creating jobs, enhancing local character, and strengthening communities. Our “Go Local” campaign will specifically support local independent businesses and organizations in building thriving local economies. Background The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) is one of 18 UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada, among 669 BRs in 120 countries. They are geographic areas designated by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program only if they have globally significant natural environments, and only with community support. Biospheres protect and celebrate special landscapes by helping to build sustainable communities --- a balance of culture, society, environment and economy.
Transcript
Report to Brockville City Council November 1, 2016
Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network Celia Medcalf, Member
Erik Wang, Treasurer Ellie Bennett, Program Manager
Recommended THAT Council recognize the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network (FABN) as the lead non-profit organization supporting the UNESCO designation of the region as a World Biosphere Reserve (BR), with the City being the first founding municipal partner in 2002. THAT Council approve a budget allocation of $12,000 for 2017 to support the FAB Go Local campaign.
Purpose This report describes the important role that FABN plays in community development in the City and region, and how this is part of the Association of 18 BRs across Canada strengthening communities at a grassroots level. We share how FABN aligns with the Healthy Communities Vision and the City’s Official Plan. The value of FABN is described, along with a specific proposal to launch a Go Local campaign. In a nutshell: The FABN proposes to develop and implement a “Go Local” campaign that will promote sustainable community development within the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. Local businesses and organizations play crucial roles in creating jobs, enhancing local character, and strengthening communities. Our “Go Local” campaign will specifically support local independent businesses and organizations in building thriving local economies.
Background The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) is one of 18 UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada, among 669 BRs in 120 countries. They are geographic areas designated by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program only if they have globally significant natural environments, and only with community support. Biospheres protect and celebrate special landscapes by helping to build sustainable communities --- a balance of culture, society, environment and economy.
FABN is a non-profit non-governmental organization working on projects for conservation, cultural heritage, trails, education, and sustainable tourism. It was incorporated in 2004 to support the designation in 2002. The City of Brockville was the first municipality to formally support this initiative in eastern Ontario. The formal boundary encompasses 2,700 square kilometres. Approximately 100,000 residents live here. Brockville is the only city within it, with about a quarter of the population. FABN programs often extend beyond this area. Vision: FABN will be known as a champion for world-class sustainable community development that celebrates nature, livelihood, wellbeing and culture, and forges a better way of living and growing together. Mission: FABN’s mission is to encourage people to work together toward a sustainable community. Enough for all, for all time. One of our successful programs in the past was Local Flavours, celebrating local food producers, processors, and outlets. Currently a very successful sustainable tourism project is FAB Experiences, celebrating local enterprises for arts, food, heritage and recreation. The City was underrepresented in 2016 with 6% of the enterprise listings, though having about a quarter of the served population, excluding Kingston.
Local Enterprise Matters Go Local campaigns strengthen the local economy (www.amiba.net, www.civiceconomics.com). Overall, local recirculation of revenue is two to three times more from independent businesses than from chains, and consumer spending at local independent businesses results in a direct multiplier effect two to three times greater compared to spending at local chain outlets (data from nine studies by Civic Economics, 2012: www.civiceconomics.com, see Appendix A). In addition, Go Local campaigns build the community and help create a healthier environment, jobs and opportunities (http://www.amiba.net/resources/localhero/).
Go Local Campaign FABN proposes a Go Local campaign to support local independent enterprises, contributing to a thriving economy, to launch in spring 2017. Half the project is for a 2017 edition of FAB Experiences, with a budget of $20,000. The 2016 edition included a successful production and distribution of 30,000 Guides. The Guide is a booklet showcasing the natural and cultural heritage of the region, and lists a couple hundred local participating enterprises. The other half of the project, budgeted at $20,000 will extend FAB Experiences, delivering an educational infographic, attractive logo and decals, and media campaign to encourage residents and visitors to shop at local enterprises.
The budget is apportioned as follows: $1,200 Brockville featured in FAB Experiences Guide 8,800 Design and print of infographic, logo, decals, banner, website 3,000 Admin, overhead, travel 7,000 Project management ______ $20,000 Total Extension of 2017 Experiences $20,000 Total 2017 Experiences _______ $40,000 Total Go Local Campaign The City will be featured in the 2017 Guide, and its businesses who choose to list will have a much larger collective presence there and online. Those enterprises interested in basic participation (at little to no cost to them) may still choose to promote themselves with Local Owned, Local Made, Local Grown, or Local Champion materials provided directly or through a partnered organization. Other funding for this budget is being sought from other FAB municipalities and the Thousand Islands Community Development Fund.
Value to the City of Brockville 1) Spending by Example: The campaign will spend $40K, at least half of that in the city, providing an economic multiplier effect. 2) Alignment with the Official Plan: A regional Buy Local campaign aligns with the City’s Economic Development Strategic Directions Update of 2015. That update followed up from the Official Plan adopted in 2011. It recommends Strategic Directions that a Go Local campaign will fit well with: One direction, Economic Diversification, can be assisted by this project in identifying Lone Eagles, and networking with Angel Investors. For another, Municipal Services, the regional approach of the campaign will obviously “remain open to regionally-oriented opportunities”. Finally, Tourism Development will be furthered by the campaign through identifying and understanding cultural assets that appeal to Buy Local shoppers. We point out the Official Plan’s Strategic Planning Theme 1: A Sustainable, Healthy and Vital City
1A8: Recognize and protect, within the context and confines of this Plan, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. 1B30: Support local food production in neighbouring rural municipalities by buying and consuming local produce.
And Strategic Planning Theme 2: An Economically Strong and Diverse City 2B27: Support locally owned and operated businesses and promote the concept of buying local to residents. 2B29: Encourage, support and partner with community and non-profit organizations to advance social, cultural, environmental, and economic programmes and activities that contribute to and strengthen the City.
3) Alignment with the Healthy Communities Vision, endorsed by Council: For Healthy Eating; All community members have food knowledge and skills, and access to local, safe, healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food. 4) Leveraging local interest: Initiatives by the Young Professionals and DBIA this year focus on downtown and Shop Local. During Small Business Week, Mayor Henderson was quoted in the Recorder and Times, Oct. 18, 2016 about small businesses: “They tend to be the lifeblood of how your economy evolves and grows…” 5) A broader engagement with independent enterprises in the region will strengthen the community through a consistent brand of Go Local. It will augment the public engagement that Chambers of Commerce and other representative organizations currently provide.
Policy Implications None.
Financial Considerations Allocation of $12,000 in the 2017 City budget to contribute to the Go Local campaign.
Summary The City’s financial support of FABN and this Go Local campaign is an investment in social enterprise and education, thereby strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the community. It aligns well with the Healthy Communities Vision and the Official Plan. It is recommended that Council recognize FABN and allocate $12,000 to the FAB Go Local campaign.
______________________ _________________________ Celia Medcalf Erik Wang Member, Former Secretary Treasurer Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network
Appendices: A. Benefits of Go Local Campaigns B. Recent FABN Projects C. FABN 2015 Income/Expense Statement D. Businesses in Brockville and the FAB Region
Appendix A - Benefits of Go Local Campaigns
Appendix B - Recent FABN Projects
Over the last year we have accomplished much through various programs. Of particular benefit for Brockville residents was the FABN Trails program initiating and executing a National Trails Coalition grant, a collaborative of six sub-projects. The largest of these contributed $14,300 to the Tom Dailey bridge on the Brock Trail. Other large regional projects include Amazing Places, 2016 Experiences (online, print), and renovating and running the office as a new tourist information location on the 1000 Islands Parkway. Our plans for 2017 include self-funded projects for Education, Experiences, Trails and Conservation. The UNESCO designation as a World Biosphere Reserve is also up for renewal. These plans will be worked on by committed volunteers and staff.
