Closing the implementation gap: a framework for incorporating the context of place in economic development planning

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, rural and small-town Canada has experienced considerable transformation from social, economic, and political restructuring. These changes put pressure on communities and regions to assume increasing levels of responsibility for economic planning and development. The record to date, however, reveals implementation gaps between plans and the results on the ground. This paper explores this implementation gap using a case study from northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The findings indicate that a failure to incorporate the context of place in the analysis of economic strategy reports results in flawed local and regional development processes and misdirected action plans. This research is set within a broader revival in the regional development literature, where an interest in regions is accompanied by enquiry into the ability of local action to influence economic development planning and longer-term community sustainability.

Keywords:

• regional development
• place-based development
• rural and small town

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful insights and suggestions. The research was conducted in partnership with the 16/37 Community Futures Development Corporation and the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. Funding support was provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Notes

Consulting agencies produced a majority of the documents (eight), followed by local economic development/Band Council offices (four), the provincial government (two), and a regional non-government organisation (one).