Explore progress on objectives related to Goal 5 of the Innisfil Economic Development Strategic Plan: Foster a best-in-class economic development office.

Refine the expertise and capacity for innovation of the Economic Development team.

Action 55

Develop professional development plans which focus on building capacity for innovation, supporting intrapreneurs and creating opportunities for employees to be informed on leading edge practices, through attending conferences, taking courses, and/or participating in workshops.

  • Timeline: 2024
  • Status: In Progress
  • Progress: Professional Development Plans were implemented for all Economic Development team members.
  • Impact: In 2024, one new team member achieved the EDAC Economic Developer designation, and four additional team members participated in educational courses as they work towards this designation.

Action 56

Solidify Innisfil’s reputation as a leader in innovative collaboration by exploring opportunities to increase knowledge sharing with other economic development and business support professionals (including roundtables, masterminds, conference speaking/guest lecture opportunities).

  • Timeline: Ongoing
  • Status: In Progress
  • Progress: Knowledge sharing goals were set for all Economic Development team members to solidify Innisfil's reputation as a leader in innovative collaboration.
  • Impact: Collectively staff took part in 10 knowledge sharing opportunities. These engagements were delivered through a range of opportunities whereby staff provided guest lectures, supported initiatives by participating on judging panels, supported regional hiring panels, and presented at industry events.

Continue to improve relationships and build trust with community stakeholders.

Action 57

Employ customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track business engagement activities and leads in a dashboard which would allow staff to better manage and follow up with leads.

  • Timeline: 2024
  • Status: Complete
  • Progress: In 2024, the Economic Development Team onboarded the new TIEIT CRM system to manage leads and develop a pipeline to support inquiries.
  • Impact: More than 3,480 stakeholders have been added, and through which the team has established contacts with more than 788 companies.

Action 58

Deploy annual statistically valid survey tools to measure the health of businesses and determine which businesses need assistance based on priorities. Questions can focus on understanding business growth and expansion challenges; their labour force needs, and programming supports.

  • Timeline: This action is targeted to begin in 2025.
  • Status: Not yet initiated.
  • Progress: N/A
  • Impact: Impact to be presented on project completion.

Action 59

Position quarterly networking and/or Council tours to allow Town leadership to build relationships with local stakeholders and encourage networking and collaboration between stakeholders.

  • Timeline: Ongoing
  • Status: In Progress
  • Progress: Quarterly networking tours were implemented in 2024 to allow Council to better understand business needs and opportunities.
  • Impact: In 2024, 3 Council tours took place, and 12 monthly staff tours of local businesses took place.

Action 60

Explore new marketing tools and platforms to share economic development progress, successes, and KPIs.

  • Timeline: Ongoing
  • Status: In Progress
  • Progress: In 2024 a new KPI dashboard was developed to assist Economic Development staff in setting, monitoring and tracking goals related to output and impact.  The Marketing & Content Strategist employed marketing through Cineplex theatres for the first time in an effort to increase regional awareness of Innisfil retailers.
  • Impact: Approximately 23,691 attendees viewed the Shop Innisfil commercial screenings at Cineplex theatres in Barrie.