Community Economic Development
The following criteria were the guiding Community Economic Development principles of the Neechi Foods Worker Co-op. These principles have been formally adopted by SEED Winnipeg, other organizations, and businesses that share a commitment to community development.
1. Use of locally produced goods and services
- Purchases of goods and services produced locally
- Circulation of income within the local community; less income drain
- Stronger economic linkages within the local community
- Less dependency on outside markets
- Greater community self-reliance
2. Production of goods and services for local use
- Creation of goods and services for use in the local community
- Circulation of income within the local community, less income drain
- Stronger economic linkages within the local community
- Greater community self-reliance
- Restoration of balance in the local economy
3. Local re-investment of profits
- Use of profits to expand local economic activity
- Stop profit drainage
- Investment that increases community self-reliance and cooperation
4. Long-term employment of local residents
- Long-term jobs in areas which have experienced chronic unemployment or under-employment
- Reduction of dependency on welfare and food banks
- Opportunities to live more socially productive lives
- Personal and community self-esteem
- More wages and salaries spent in the local community
5. Local skill development
- Training of local residents
- Training geared to community development needs
- Higher labour productivity
- Greater employability in communities which have historically experienced high unemployment
- Greater productive capability of economically depressed areas
6. Local decision-making
- Local ownership and control
- Cooperative forms of ownership and control
- Grassroots involvement
- Community self-determination
- People working together to meet community needs
7. Public Health
- Physical and mental health of community residents
- Healthier families
- More effective schooling
- More productive workforce
8. Physical environment
- Healthy neighbourhoods
- Safe neighbourhoods
- Attractive neighbourhoods
- Ecological sensitivity
9. Neighbourhood stability
- Dependable housing
- Long-term residency
- Base for long-term community development
10. Human dignity
- Self-respect
- Community spirit
- Gender equality
- Respect for seniors
- Respect for children
- Social dignity regardless of physical, intellectual, or psychological differences
- Social dignity regardless of national or ethnic background, colour or creed
- Aboriginal pride
11. Support for other CED initiatives
- Mutually supportive trade among organizations with similar community development goals in Winnipeg and elsewhere
Sources
- Enns, Sara Wray. Community Economic Development in Manitoba: Theory, History, Policy, and Practice. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. January 2018.
- Loxley, John. “Sustainable Urban Economic Development: An Aboriginal Perspective.” Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development 3.1. 2002. Pages 29-32.