St Stephen Community Development Plan
The St. Stephen Community Development Plan is a road map to future growth for our area, developed with the co-operation of community stakeholders and institutions including the Chamber.
St. Stephen Community Development Plan (Click on to open PDF)
Groups & Organizations involved:
Chamber / DSS / BIA / Service Groups / Schools / Churches & Community Groups / Town Council & Administration
Tasks Identified:
Health
- Conduct Health Care Needs Assessment (Task Group)
- Plan for hospital future (Task Group)
- Define recruitment strategy for physicians (Town)
Arts, Culture & Sports
- Establish a Centre for Arts (Service & Community Groups)
- Establish database of sports & clubs, events (Town)
- Develop marketing plan for Garcelon Civic Centre (Town)
- Develop plan for Arena (Arena Board)
- Assess feasibility of downtown social venue (Private Interests)
- Preserve / share history / heritage (Expanded scope Museum Board)
Education
- Improve visibility of existing social & community programs (Town)
- Improve support for High School Entrepreneurship program (SSACC)
- Develop & support SSU Entrepreneurship Centre program (SSACC)
- Strengthen High School CO-OP program (High School, SSACC)
- Collaborate to support entrepreneurs (DSS, SSACC, CBDC)
Economy
- Develop a plan for Downtown Infrastructure Development (BIA)
- Develop Town Brand – Communicate and get community buy-in (DSS)
- ID people (demographic) & types of business as marketing targets (DSS)
- Develop marketing tools & market our town:
- to targeted people (demographic) (DSS)
- to targeted types of business (DSS)
- Create New Business Package & ID a Single Point of Contact (DSS)
- Evolve “Think Local First” plan and implement (SSACC)
- Create business and community service directory (SSACC, Town)
- Improve promotion of properties & businesses for sale (DSS, SSACC, Town)
- Raise profile with INVESTNB & ACOA (with this development plan) (DSS)
- Revise / refine Business Incentive Plan (DSS, Town)
- Identify new ways to fund development initiatives (DSS)
- Create compelling ways to prevent tourist bypass (SSACC, BIA, DSS)
- Improve business retention / growth support (e.g. succession) (DSS, SSACC)
- Assess feasibility & benefit of hospitality tax (DSS)
- Develop an asset management plan for key municipal assets (Town)
Environment
- Conduct climate change impact review (SCEP)
Community Engagement & Collaboration
- Engage community (forums, surveys & communication) (Town)
- Welcome & Engage all newcomers (CCMA)
- Develop Community Ambassador program (Church / Service Groups)
- Enhance pride in the community (Church / Service Groups)
- Communicate success (people & business) (Town, St. Croix Courier)
- Survey youth to determine their views on community (Boys & Girls Club, Town)
- Foster community engagement in events / boards / volunteering (Church / Service Groups)