Go Local Aurora

Local Economic Development Community Building A Proposal for a sustainable local economic development program to educate

community and promote the benefits of sustainable local production and consumption

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“It’s all about creating vibrancy”

The local main street is the business face of the community. A well maintained

‘main street’ brings pride and identity.

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About The Program: Understanding The Desires of Local Business

Globalization has brought many new products and

services to communities and regions all over the

world. Brand recognition and consistency of

product have allowed corporations to succeed in

world markets. However, we live and identify with

our local environment – our community. The

pressures of globalization have put fiscal stress on

local entrepreneurs and independent businesses

that strive to add independence.

Trade is very important to people’s way of life but

when diversity, local jobs and accessibility are

compromised, we see a decline in support of the

‘main street’ of a community. The Go Local

Program aims to bring community and local

businesses together for increased trade,

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streetscape improvement and greater accessibility

to the diversity of products and services outside our

front doors.

How It Begins

It begins with understanding the needs of local

business and residents to form relationships of

patronage and good will. The engagement

process will inform and encourage local business

owners to take part in consultations and

brainstorming sessions as well as attend

educational seminars on main street development

and street scape enhancements.

Key objectives of the primary engagement round

includes:

• Relationship building and education

• Historical sensitivity and cultural assessment

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Bringing business and community together to prosper and thrive.

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Why Local Economic Development is Essential for Community Prosperity

“When all you have is a hammer, everything looks

like a nail”

With new technology and the rapid rate of

development, scales of economy have produced

a generic streetscape that reproduces franchise

environments, car-intensive streetscapes, making

business and resident areas look and feel the same

across whole regions. The exceptions are well

known attractions for tourists and locals alike.

Research has demonstrated the close relationship

between entrepreneurship and regional and local

development. Innovativeness developed within

local inter-firm networks both supports existing firms

and presents opportunities for starting new

businesses in order to serve newly identified

markets.

LED makes better use of limited resources. By

engaging in local dialogue, networks can pro-

actively self-identify opportunities and create

greater resilience to global economic

environment. This bottom-up approach is multi-

disciplinary in nature. To maintain competitive

advantage, entrepreneurial spirit must flourish and

have access to intellectual capital and financial

resources and be well supported.

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Buying and Selling Locally is Better for the Economy and

the Environment. Local vendors use their own time and energy to source products to bring to

the community. When that purchase is made, grown or produced locally, it

becomes an investment in that area.

Spending a dollar with a local vendor creates a local economy as that

same dollar bounces from person to person and from store to store before it

has a chance to leave.

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“It’s all about creating vibrancy”

Aurora Village Revitalization – Culture, Business,

Community

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Aurora Village

Aurora Village is defined by its proximity to the

Yonge and Wellington intersection. It is a heavily

trafficked area with unusual setbacks, posing

unique challenges and opportunities.

Bringing Identity

A Village is a definable area, with a unique

identity. Examples in York and Durham regions

include Kleinburg and Unionville. It represents the

past and future intent of the community linking

heritage and legacy to the sustainability of trade

and quality of life.

Bringing Community

The streetscape in Aurora Village is challenged for

walkability, bicycle use, parking and traffic flow.

• Relationship building and education

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• Historical sensitivity and cultural assessment

• Defining scope and participation levels

• Defining roles, strategy and organization

• Reviewing the Aurora Promenade draft

plan

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A Cyclovia is an event that is celebrated many

cities all over the world, including Bogata,

Portland, Tucson, Moreland, Quito, Mexico City,

Lima, New York, Los Angeles and more. In

Canada, cities have used the cyclovia to improve

access to local businesses and to engage the

community in a positive healthy way. Winnipeg,

Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hamilton have

all participated in such an event.

Aurora Village with its unique position between

established communities, ongoing events such as

Farmer’s markets and certain amenities is an

excellent geographic location for bringing people

out to enjoy the streetlife. A Cyclovia proposed for

Aurora Village could run on Yonge Street from

Orchard Heights Blvd. to Church Street on a

weekend morning, allowing people to bike, run,

rollarblade and walk in safety along the

commercial route.

The proposed Cyclovia would run 8am to 2pm on

Saturday mornings, utilizing the outside lanes of

Yonge Street. The best case scenario is to fully

close Yonge Street for the morning allowing full

access, pollution and noise reduction, and full

family safety.

• Provide space for youth, entrepreneurs

and community builders to access and

share resources to help solve problems in

the community (economic, social,

environmental).

• Can be a week-to-week lease or

agreement – furniture donated – quick

setup/teardown

• Can keep empty spaces or storefronts

occupied and useful

• Several working models including two in

Toronto (see website)

• The plan can be found on the Town of

Aurora website

• Reveals plans for intensification, design

and streetscape improvements

• Long range vision of Aurora’s commercial

areas

• Recommends green buildings, street

furniture, wider promenade

• Combination of elements is meant to

improve ‘downtown’ area

• How can LED plan add to/improve/ assist

current plans?

Cyclovia The Promenade Plan Social Innovation Centre

A video link to see what Cyclovia is all about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XktvrrMBMi0

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The Aurora Promenade

A vision was developed in 2009 and a draft plan was adopted by council in late 2010 – highlights include:

The plan supports more pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

Maintain heritage architecture.

Increased density and mixed usage.

Lack of Risk Analysis

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Businesses are interested in seeing immediate improvement – what can we do now?

The Promenade plan has listed a series of steps by priority and could benefit from some additional ideas:

Cleaning up and changing the look are prominent.

Greening the space should play a role.

Biking and walking programs can be a welcome addition.

A ‘Go Local’ marketing program to engage the community.

More to come through engagement sessions…

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Continued from the Aurora Promenade Plan…

What can we address NOW and in a sustainable way?

Landscaping – native species, herbs, food in baskets, empty lots, space

Rent trees in containers

GoLocal promotion – stickers in windows displaying membership and participation in community program, public engagement

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Sustainable Development Recognizing the need to be responsible

for our local environment means reducing

our footprint and enriching our local

trade.

LED can result in compound benefits to:

• Local food production

• Recycling and reuse of materials

• Local employment opportunities

• Leveraging skills and knowledge

• Green buildings

Creating Opportunities Creating networks with regional and

Ontario producers of materials, organic

foods and beverages, artisan crafts and

recyclers develops resilient relationships

that can thrive even when energy prices

rise or foreign products lower standards.

• Relationship building

• Public Relations & Promoting

• Networking

• Sourcing

• Access to skills and resources

Promotions and Marketing There are many ways to encourage

residents to work with and identify pro-

local businesses.

• Go Local Partner window sticker

• Newsletter

• Events and Socials

• Volunteerism and Activism

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Go Local Aurora Business Development Program 45 Buchanan Crescent Aurora, Ontario L4G 5K4

Contact: Chris Caldwell - cc@systain.ca 416.508.5938