Creating Opportunities Consultations Report

Adding Value in Rural and Northern Manitoba

SERVICES AND MANUFACTURING

OPPORTUNITIES

A number of opportunities exist to develop specific industries that haven’t been mentioned elsewhere in this report. Manitoba is uniquely situated to provide manufactured goods and services to the mining and oil and gas industries in western Canada, the United States and the world. Manitoba’s advantages include a strong equipment manufacturing base, lower operating costs and greater availability of skilled labour. Other opportunities identified included manufacturing goods with recycled materials, winemaking from Manitoba-produced fruit, micro-brewing and natural cemeteries.

Rural Manitobans are generally excited by the opportunities to develop new industries and expand existing industries in their communities. However, individuals and communities sometimes find that acting on these opportunities is a daunting task; they need access to the knowledge and resources that can help them.

CHALLENGES

• Financial – Research, development and marketing costs can be a barrier to innovative industries. Funding
  is needed to develop businesses past the feasibility study stage. A shortage of local risk capital and equity funds
  is a limiting factor.

• Human Resources – Potential entrepreneurs need access to training and advice on starting a business. Some existing, small rural industries have staff that need training in areas such as human resources, management, and the use of technology. The availability of qualified tradespeople is also of concern to the development and growth of manufacturing businesses. Housing availability and costs are also barriers to attracting employees.

• Community Capacity – Local demographic factors, such as rural depopulation and aging, or under trained workforces, can hinder the attraction of new businesses and the retention and growth of existing value-added businesses.

• Infrastructure – High-speed Internet and cellular phone coverage for rural residents is becoming increasingly important to developing new opportunities. The quality or extent of road, rail and sea transportation infrastructure is also a barrier to developing some industries. Individual communities may find it difficult to provide the infrastructure needed by major industries.

• Regulations – In some cases, regulations limit the potential for development of some specialized enterprises and in others, stronger regulations are needed to keep consumers safe. There is also a desire for streamlined delivery of information, so that information on new regulations reaches the public, and information on all regulations on specific industries can be obtained through a single contact.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Governments, communities and industries should work together on several fronts to:

• Research, develop and commercialize new industrial opportunities with particular focus on opportunities for the local manufacturing of specialized equipment needed by existing and future industries.

• Develop a skilled rural workforce by

  • promoting high school vocational training and post-secondary education to provide a skilled workforce for local industries

  • attracting professionals and skilled immigrants to rural communities.

• Explore ways to support small business development by simplifying regulations and/or creating programs that place newer or small industries on an equal footing with larger, established industries.

• Examine present transportation infrastructure for barriers to the movement of value-added products to markets
  and strategies to address those barriers.

• Explore ways to help in project management and implementation for community economic development projects.

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