The Wrap-up for Urban Policy: Examining Local Business Development Programs
With the completion of the last assignment for the course, our group provided a report to United Way Greater Toronto with the task of answering one specific question related to economic development: What business development programs have the greatest potential to create economic opportunities for local residents from different racial/ethnic backgrounds in the Greater Golden Mile (GGM)?
In hindsight, the report developed into a project that imparted important lessons upon completion of the course, but a brief overview of the report is warranted. It considers the necessary factors that needed to be addressed within the GGM. In lieu of the substantial presence of immigrants and diverse racial groups, the GGM would benefit from targeting inclusive economic development programs to this population. Based on evidence drawing from various jurisdictions, four potential programs were proposed in which the program either focused on existing resources and programming or expanded beyond the current programming offered in the region.
The ultimate recommendation favored one of two suggested policy options. The first was to Expand on the United Way’s current netWORKS program that already provides economic opportunities and career-oriented mentorship to young people. It would utilize their pre-existing infrastructure and connections with agencies and employers that were developed for the netWORKS program and translate them into a match, connect and refer program that could take place in the Greater Golden Mile. This program would act as a three-step program with specific streams for priority populations and allows both the United Way and the local community to further develop a working relationship with developers in the area as they continue to expand their work in the GGM.
The second would Capitalize on the United Way’s existing partnership with the Hospitality Workers’ Training Centre. The centre aimed to provide economic opportunities within the hospitality industry along with extensive occupational training to previously unemployed individuals, especially Syrian newcomers. The United Way would translate the success of this program to the GGM by revamping the Hospitality Language Training Program using their partner agencies first-hand knowledge of the program, and their own unique position within the community tailor it for priority populations in the Greater Golden Mile.
In either case, the two options would allow the United Way to implement the programs in a timely manner, while utilizing existing networking infrastructure. They are also based on programs that have seen positive outcomes and economic opportunities generated through their work
To me, this project was important for reasons other than being an opportunity to consult United Way about inclusive economic development in the GGM. This project was the ribbon that tied together the broader themes and messages drawn from the course. Thinking about the best potential business development program, and the partners or supports behind a proposed program, is an example of how not all governing is done by the government, especially with the presence of organizations like United Way. Examining these programs in different jurisdictions leads to a discussion of how a city’s governance structure affects the nature of its response with inclusive economic development and may tie back into the multiple definitions of what a city is.
In other words, the project is what I consider the climax of the course. I was able to think back to each week of the course and deepen my understanding of the definition, operation, oversight, interest, and governing of cities. Without the project, I would safely assume that I wouldn’t remember as much about what I learned about urban policy and governance.
