Rural Development

Community Futures Peace Country works with individuals, businesses, and leaders in our region to expand and/or diversify rural economies. Community Futures Peace Country works closely with communities to create innovative approaches to economic development and rural diversification through the practice of Community Economic Development (CED). Community Economic Development (CED) puts local people in charge of their ways of life and work.

At Community Futures, community economic development programs and projects are facilitated and initiated by our Staff and Board of Directors to address the issues of economic development and diversification. Community Futures' staff are practicing CED - working to create a constructive response to problems and explore new opportunities.

About Rural Diversfication (excerpt from www.cfna.ca)

Our world is changing rapidly. What made sense 10 years ago doesn't make sense today and will most likely not be relevant tomorrow. For many of our rural communities, their reliance on old industries and on old ways of working to stimulate development has become or may soon become irrelevant in the near future.

For rural communities to compete in our fast changing world full of economic uncertainties, there is an increased need to adopt new economic development strategies. These strategies must be intentional or focused. They must be flexible to adapt in order to capture opportunities presented by a market place that truly is global. Most likely, these community strategies will be based upon innovation, diversification, and in the securing of new markets for existing and to be developed rural products and services. The future relevancy of our rural communities will depend on how well we collectively vision, plan for, and create growth for our communities ... one idea at a time.

Successful rural communities will identify, inventory and access economic opportunities. They will look for unique ways to build upon what they already have. Using existing community assets, the resilient community of tomorrow will also look for new and efficient ways to produce and then market products/services to new customers in a marketplace infinitely larger than it was 2 decades ago. Successful communities will "fight" to ensure that they are relevant in 2020. They will invest in themselves, rather than waiting for government or others to ensure that they are diversified and relevant for a secure tomorrow.

At the local or regional level, Community Futures organizations play a key role in working along side community leaders and other key stakeholders for the development of a strategic vision for our community's future. Along with our communities and community partners, Community Futures organizations invest in activities and projects designed to allow our rural communities to be resilient. Community Futures organizations provide support and as required, leadership at the local level.