The United Counties of Prescott and
Russell Economic Development and Tourism (PREDT), in collaboration with
the eight municipalities of the region, has now made available the
Prescott and Russell Economic Response and Recovery Plan.
This plan is the result of a collective effort to organize and
implement the regional economic recovery. The strategy, as well as the
37 actions proposed to relaunch the Prescott and Russell economy, are
based on the opinion of the business community gathered through two
surveys totalling 758 respondents. Nine consultations conducted with
organizations dedicated to economic development or business support in
the region will also ensure that the recovery actions are effective and
coordinated.
“At the beginning of the crisis, the objective was to limit the
economic impacts related to COVID-19. Now, to ensure economic recovery
and to allow our businesses to restart safely, we are supporting and
encouraging them to adapt to new realities and innovations to ensure
their longer-term resilience," explained Carole Lavigne, Director of
Economic Development and Tourism for the UCPR.
The recovery plan is based on seven strategic pillars aimed at:
- supporting businesses
- promoting local purchasing behaviour
- ensuring a digital pivot
- improving the resilience of the business community
- reviewing regional strategic economic planning
- developing the regional workforce, and
- restoring the confidence of consumers and tourists in the region.
“The impacts of COVID-19 on the region's businesses are undeniable, and
being the economic drivers of our communities that play an important
role in our recovery, it is more important than ever to support them,”
said Pierre Leroux, Warden of the UCPR Council.
The economic
recovery will take place over an indeterminate period of time and in an
uncertain context. That said, the plan presented today will need to be
updated regularly. For this reason, the UCPR recommends that the
community regularly consult its website for the most recent version.