Integrated Economic Development Strategy

Kingston’s new Integrated Economic Development Strategy will lay the foundation for strategies, tactics and targeted activities that will create a sustainable and thriving ecosystem to support business growth, start-ups, investment attraction and new foreign direct investment opportunities in our community. Through this strategy, Kingston will focus on two main sectors – Health Innovation and Sustainable Manufacturing.

Kingston Value Proposition

What sets the Kingston CMA apart from its peers?

IEDS Value

Key Highlights of The Strategy

The strategy is directed by two specific actions:
- A fully integrated and collaborative community
- A clustered approach for driving short and long-term economic growth potential
Two primary clusters are proposed:
- Health & Health Innovation
- Sustainable Manufacturing
Two additional strategic frameworks are referenced:
- Rural Kingston Economic Development Strategy
- Creative Industries Strategic Framework
The Implementation framework was a key consideration to prepare for execution:
- Developed and implemented by the community for the community

Based on the extensive market research and stakeholder consultation throughout the development of the Strategy four pillars, 13 themes, and 35 recommended initiatives have emerged:

IEDS Pillars

Strategic Sectors

View the Integrated Economic Development Strategy 2020

Background

One of the distinguishing characteristics in the development of Kingston’s new Integrated Economic Development Strategy has been the deliberate collaboration, integration and alignment of: City Council’s Strategic priorities and City work plans, key community stakeholder’s strategies including Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College and the mission and vision of Kingston Economic Development Corporation.

One of the strengths of the community often cited in stakeholder consultations was that Kingston is big enough for critical mass and scaling but also small enough to be able to connect easily and directly with key community stakeholders. This attribute has allowed the strategy project team to gain access to key stakeholders across the community and will be a key success factor in the implementation of strategy recommendations.

The onset of COVID-19, shortly after work begun on the integrated strategy, has required that new economic conditions and factors impacting our community, region and country be taken into account and planned for accordingly. The pandemic’s impact on the economy will be deep and long-lasting.