We're excited to announce the development of our Economic Development Strategy (EDS). The economic wellbeing of Severn is directly impacted by the successes and challenges facing our business community. The EDS will establish a vision and strategic priorities to guide economic development initiatives by the Township of Severn over the next five years.
About the EDS
Township of Severn has hired Explorer Solutions to lead the development of the EDS. This initiative is a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) project that will be customized to support the Severn community. It applies a structured, action-orientated, and community-based approach to business and economic development.
Project goals
The EDS will define strategic objectives with achievable outcomes. The project will follow a process that will allow Severn to determine where we want to go in relation to economic development, and charts a path to get us there. The strategy will help to define important goals, set specific directions, and clarify policy and budget priorities.
The project will consist of four phases:
- Phase I: Collect business and market data
- Phase 2: Analyze results
- Phase 3: Create a short-term action plan and develop the five-year strategy
- Phase 4: Prepare the final strategy
Reports and presentations
Explorer Solutions presented the Phase 1 Preliminary Report to the Corporate Services Committee on August 30, 2023.View the Phase 1 Preliminary Report and presentation
Opportunities for public involvement
To gather input from community members and stakeholders, Severn is inviting local residents, businesses, First Nations, partners and community organizations to participate in a public online survey. The survey will remain open until October 6, 2023.
Complete the survey
The survey will gather feedback and input on a wide range of topics such as:
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Additional opportunities to get involved will include:
- an online survey tailored to capture the thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of youth living in Severn
- virtual and in-person focus groups
- one-on-one meetings and interviews with business leaders and stakeholders
Ideas, comments and questions?
Have an idea, comment or question you'd like to share about the EDS?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Why is Severn creating an Economic Development Strategy? |
| Severn is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the County of Simcoe. The Township has many existing assets that make it attractive to potential businesses, such as its proximity to nature and access to major roads and highways. This strategy aims to leverage those assets and identify additional opportunities by working with our local businesses, stakeholders, and other partners to create a vision for a strong and sustainable local economy. |
| What is included in an Economic Development Strategy? |
| The project will consider many factors that impact our economy, and many that fall outside of the role of local government. The EDS could include, but may not be limited to the following areas of consideration:
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| How is an Economic Development Strategy used? |
| The strategy will enable Council, partners, the local business community, and stakeholders to work together to champion economic development in Severn. The strategy will help to inform policy, operational, and budget decisions; and provides a structure to guide economic development initiatives Severn may be involved in. |
| Who will be consulted with as part of this process? |
| Severn will engage broadly with the community. We will reach out to local businesses, First Nations, municipal partners, community groups, as well as youth and students. |
| How will my comments be used? |
| Public and stakeholder input will be used to inform the vision, goals and strategies for local economic development in Severn. |
| How long will it take to complete the strategy? |
| The EDS is expected to be completed in March 2024. |
| Where can I find more information about business support in Severn? |
| You can visit our Business Support page to learn more about available land, business resources, and key investment areas. |
| How can I stay updated? |
| Select the “Subscribe to this page” button located to the right of the page. You'll receive an email notification every time we update the content for this page. This is an easy way to stay informed. |
Subscribe to this page
Select the “Subscribe to this page” button located to the right of the page. You'll receive an email notification every time we update the content for this page. This is an easy way to stay informed.