FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVE

Identify and respond to high value, high potential economic growth opportunities and encourage investment, exports, business productivity, innovation & competitiveness.

SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (YEARS 1-2)

1. Build a coordinated reconnaissance and commercial intelligence capability to identify and respond to threats and opportunities in high value sectors like Finance and Insurance, Aerospace and Defence, Digital Industries, Oceans, and Transportation.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
2. Mobilize community stakeholders to collectively respond to and/or support immediate threats and opportunities. (Note: Identified priority for Year One of the Strategy is to mobilize and engage community support for Halifax Shipyard’s response to Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement bid.)
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
3. Enhanced focus on Halifax’s Business Retention and Expansion Program to ensure competitive intelligence on current opportunities and emerging needs of business are shared with economic development partners. Identify and connect trade ready and hyper-growth companies to support services.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
4. Improve the connection and collaboration between research organizations and business.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
5. Develop and implement a Halifax Regional and Head Office Retention Strategy.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
6. Maximize opportunities with the Halifax Gateway Council and support the Year Two Implementation Plan for their Five-Year Strategy.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
7. Increase business engagement in the development of a Harbour Master Plan.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH
   
   
8. Increase awareness and understanding of the economic impact and role social enterprises play in economic prosperity of Halifax.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: MEDIUM
   
   
9. Align and collaborate with the provincial and federal partners to position the Halifax business case to attract high-value, high-potential business investments.
   
   Lead: GHP
   Business Community Engagement: HIGH

MEASUREMENT

• Increased productivity
• Mayor’s Economic Advisory Committee’s assessment of partnership and alignment