The establishment of the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority was the result of a community based group the "Urgent Agenda Committee" having approached the Cape Breton Joint Expenditure Board seeking it to become an active advocate for economic development.

The Agenda Committee marshaled over one hundred and fifty volunteers representing twenty-five different sectors of business and industry. After many months of work, they presented their economic development research findings to Jointex in April, 1993.

The Urgent Agenda Committee proposed three significant policy initiatives to Jointex. It was advocated:

That industrial Cape Breton required a regional, consolidated
and collective approach to economic development.

That the municipalities were determined to be the key to
economic development and the municipalities acting in unison
was thought to be critical.

That Jointex establish a collective Economic Development Authority
that would represent all municipal units in Cape Breton County and
would ensure representation of business and labour.

As a result of the foregoing, the Cape Breton Joint Expenditure Board in September 1993, established the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority. By March of 1994, CBCEDA's Board of Directors was fully constituted with municipal representatives from all units, representatives from the business communities, and a labour representative.

CBCEDA's Board of Directors retained the services of Dr. Keith G. Brown to develop a strategic plan for the restructuring of the economy of Cape Breton County. Dr. Brown and his staff were given a maximum of six months to complete this strategic plan.

After consulting with 162 people from 19 different sectors and compiling regional, national, and international research; the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority released the Strategic Economic Action Plan on August 12, 1994.

In September 1994, Ms. Eileen Lannon Oldford was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority.

CBCEDA's Board of Directors has been restructured with representatives from the key stakeholders Federal, Provincial, Municipal, UCCB, Marconi Campus, Labour, Tourism, and education.

The Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority would like to applaud and thank its board members who devote their time and energy in developing this initiative. Each member has shown dedication towards making a difference in the economic outlook for the Cape Breton County area.