Scugog looking at business program report and action plan

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

SCUGOG: During the Township of Scugog council meeting, on Monday, September 23rd, members reviewed and discussed the Scugog Business Program Final Report and Action Plan, marking a critical step in advancing local economic development.

The project which has been in development since June, outlines 30 key actions, aimed at fostering business growth and strengthening the community.

The plan is centered around six priority action areas: communication, planning and development processes, transit, collaboration with stakeholders and businesses, tourism growth, and workforce development. These areas were identified through a series of consultations and analysis, conducted by Catherine Oosterbaan of Oosterbaan Strategy, who presented the draft version of the plan to the Scugog Planning and Community Affairs Committee in June of 2024. Since then, council members and stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback on the draft report.

Following the review process, a survey was circulated to key stakeholders, including: local businesses; township committees, like the Scugog Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Scugog Tourism Advisory Committee; and support organizations, such as the North Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Port Perry BIA.

Despite receiving only three survey responses, the feedback prompted several revisions to the plan. Notable changes included the identification of additional partners for implementation, such as: the Scugog Council for the Arts, local conservation authorities, and utility companies. Additionally, refinements were made to performance measures, and a new action was added to explore funding opportunities for expanding human and financial resource capacity.

There are no immediate financial obligations tied to the endorsement of the report. However, some actions may require additional resources in the future. To address these needs, township staff will explore cost-sharing funding, through programs such as the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs’ Rural Economic Development (RED) program and the Canada Summer Jobs program. Council approval will be required before applying for any funding which involves a financial contribution from the township.

Once endorsed, the Scugog Business Program Report and Action Plan will be shared widely with the community, through various communication channels. The successful implementation of the plan will require collaboration between the Township of Scugog, the Region of Durham, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, and local business organizations. Future grant opportunities will be pursued, to ensure adequate resources are available for action plan execution.