Strategic Plan for the Town of Cochrane 4 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 October 2014 Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014 Table of Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................................................... 4! Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 4! 1.0 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 5! 2.0 Vision and Mission Development ........................................................................................................... 7! 2.1 Cochrane’s Vision ............................................................................................................................... 7! 2.2 Cochrane’s Mission ............................................................................................................................. 7! 3.0 Community Engagement and Commitment ............................................................................................. 8! 3.1 Public Consultation and On-line Surveys ............................................................................................ 8! 3.1.1 On-line Surveys ........................................................................................................................... 8! 3.2 Focus Groups ...................................................................................................................................... 8! 3.3 Interviews ........................................................................................................................................... 9! 4.0 Environmental Scan .............................................................................................................................. 10! 4.1 Socio-demographic Profile ................................................................................................................ 10! 4.1.1 Population Growth & Size .......................................................................................................... 10! 4.1.2 Age and Gender Distribution ..................................................................................................... 11! 4.1.3 Birth and Mortality Rates ............................................................................................................ 13! 4.1.4 Household Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 14! 4.1.5 Housing ..................................................................................................................................... 15! 4.1.6 Cultural Linguistic Diversity ....................................................................................................... 17! 4.1.7 Persons with Disabilities ............................................................................................................ 18! 4.1.8 Physical Health .......................................................................................................................... 19! 4.1.9 Health and Social Services ......................................................................................................... 19! 4.1.10 Community Resource Centres .................................................................................................. 20! 4.1.11 Poverty ..................................................................................................................................... 20! 4.1.12 Leisure ..................................................................................................................................... 20! 4.2 Economic Profile ............................................................................................................................... 21! 4.2.1 Income and Earnings .................................................................................................................. 21! 4.2.2 Agriculture ................................................................................................................................. 21! 4.2.3 Small Business ........................................................................................................................... 22! 4.2.4 Employment by Industry Sector .................................................................................................. 23! 4.2.5 Forestry ...................................................................................................................................... 24! 4.2.6 Mining ....................................................................................................................................... 25! 4.2.7 Tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 25! 4.2.8 Utilities ...................................................................................................................................... 28! 4.2.9 Hydroelectric Station ................................................................................................................. 29! 4.3 Environmental Factors ....................................................................................................................... 29! 4.3.1 Geographic Location and Climate .............................................................................................. 29! 4.3.2 Roads ......................................................................................................................................... 30! 4.4 Technology Factors ........................................................................................................................... 30! 4.4.1 Telecom ..................................................................................................................................... 30! 4.4.2 Applications ............................................................................................................................... 31! 4.5.Political and Regulatory Factors ........................................................................................................ 31! 1 Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014 4.5.1 Political Representation .............................................................................................................. 31! 4.5.2 Relevant Legislation and Policies ............................................................................................... 31! 4.5.3 Cochrane Board of Trade ........................................................................................................... 34! 5.0 SWOT Analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 35! 6.0 Proposed Strategic Directions ............................................................................................................... 36! 6.1 Opportunity Alignment ..................................................................................................................... 37! 6.2 Key Direction 1: Strengthen the Business Community ....................................................................... 39! 6.3 Key Direction 2: Grow the Agricultural Sector .................................................................................. 39! 6.4 Key Direction 3: Leverage Transportation Assets ............................................................................... 39! 6.5 Key Direction 4: Promote Cochrane as a Great Place to Live ............................................................ 40! 6.6 Key Direction 5: Maintain Tourism Infrastructure .............................................................................. 40! 7.0 Strategic Plan Projects in Detail ............................................................................................................ 41! 7.1 Key Direction 1: Strengthen the Business Community ....................................................................... 41! 7.1.1 Hire a Qualified Economic Development Officer ...................................................................... 41! 7.1.2 Encourage Internet adoption by Local Businesses ....................................................................... 43! 7.1.3 Build Capacity at the Board of Trade .......................................................................................... 45! 7.1.4 Align the Strategic Directions of CTS and NOW with this Strategic Plan .................................... 46! 7.1.5 Explore the Feasibility of Targeted Manufacturing ...................................................................... 47! 7.2 Key Direction 2: Grow the Agricultural Sector .................................................................................. 48! 7.2.1 Centralize Resources to Support Improved Acreage Productivity ................................................ 49! 7.2.2 Improve Municipal Awareness of and Response to Agricultural Sector. ...................................... 51! 7.2.3 Promote Consumption of Local Agriculture Products ................................................................. 52! 7.2.4 Solicit and Promote Available Agricultural Land in Cochrane .................................................... 56! 7.2.5 Strengthen Collaboration