Regional Development

The Branch promotes and coordinates regional economic planning and development programs and services at the provincial level. The Branch includes five regional offices and two corporate office divisions:

Avalon Region
Eastern Region
Central Region
Western Region
Labrador Region
Fisheries Adjustment Division
Regional Development Division

Services

The Branch supports economic and business development through the delivery of a targeted suite of programs and services. This includes:

Coordinates communities, regions, businesses and government in support of sustainable development opportunities through the Comprehensive Regional Diversification Strategy (CRDS).
Identifies, in consultation with community and regional partners and line departments, the strategic investments required to advance economic, social, cultural and environmental development in all regions.
Coordinates the development and implementation of the diversification strategies for each of the nine regions and strategic economic plans for each of the twenty economic zones to ensure consistency with line department and industry sector strategies and plans.
Supports the Economics Initiatives Committee (EIC) in its leadership role for government in regional development.
Works with EIC departments to address policy, program and regulatory issues that present barriers to implementation of priority initiatives identified for each of the regions and zones.
Works in partnership with Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs) to ensure implementation of the recommendations resulting from the ministerial review.
Implements the Regional Sectoral Diversification Fund throughout the province which provides non-repayable contributions to eligible organizations in support of the development and implementation of economic initiatives identified through the CRDS.
Delivers the Community Capacity Building, a comprehensive development program designed to help regional and community economic development stakeholders build organizational capacity.
Through a formal Cooperative Network Program and service MOU, works to increase knowledge and awareness of the co-op development opportunities throughout the province, enhance opportunity identification and increase the number of development projects, improve regional development support services and increase the number of co-op enterprises in NL.
Develops and delivers the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Initiative, a program through engagement with partners in community economic development, identifies and addresses short and long-term barriers to local business survival and growth.
Supports government planning initiatives and provincial policy initiatives relating to provincial economic development.
Through the Fisheries Task Force and the Fish Plant Workers Employment Assistance Program, coordinates Government’s response to communities directly affected by fish plant closures other GNL departments.
Ensures consideration of Government’s economic agenda in the Labour Market Development Agreement processes.
Provides and administers front-line small business development and community economic development programs and services to clients from five regional offices and 17 local/zonal offices.
Delivers IBRD’s comprehensive toolkit in support of priority business development initiatives throughout the province, including:
Monitors and manages Department’s Regional SME portfolio for repayment and/or collection.