CBCEDA - Report Card

CBCEDA Mandate Evaluation, Five Years In Review
Prepared By: Roach Perry Anderson,
Chartered Accountants
Executive Summary
From an external perspective developed during the process of completing this evaluation, it is apparent that CBCEDA is well aware of the opportunities and challenges it will encounter. Indeed, many of the recommendations conveyed in this report were identified during the review of the current business plan and during discussions with the Board Chair, Executive Director and employees. This awareness bodes well for the future success of CBCEDA. However, additional resources will undoubtedly be required by RDA's, such as CBCEDA, as governments continue to download services and requests to the local level.
Continued economic challenges, especially in Cape Breton, will ensure that community expectations and requirements for economic development will remain high. CBCEDA appears to be the appropriate agency to address these concerns. Their performance over the initial five years of operations indicates that they have been accepted and are viewed as a valuable resource by the community. This is illustrated by the high level of satisfaction with CBCEDA's process and direction documented in the numerous surveys commissioned for specific projects and by the external (ASAP) survey undertaken in Phase 1 of this evaluation process.
CBCEDA has assembled a significant network of partners including all levels of governments, community organizations, private sector, and citizens at large through a significant volunteer component. This community "buy in" demonstrates that CBCEDA has been successful in providing a strong leadership role in the facilitation of economic development in Cape Breton County.
Upon review of the initial five-year operating period, it is evident that the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority represents an extremely valuable resource for Cape Breton County. While some program adjustments, as outlined earlier, are required to reflect the growth and maturity of the Agency, the basic framework appears to be working well and should not be radically altered. The challenge now is to ensure the necessary long-term commitment and resources are secured to enable CBCEDA to continue to fulfill the overall mandate of promoting and facilitating economic development in Cape Breton County.
For a complete copy of CBCEDA's Mandate Evaluation please contact: Eileen Lannon Oldford, Chief Executive Officer, CBCEDA.

CBCEDA's Annual Report
Audited Financial Statements
March 31, 2025
Executive Summary
The creation of the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority (CBCEDA) in 1994 signaled a shift in policy away from a somewhat fragmented to a more centralized approach to economic development within Cape Breton County. CBCEDA was preceded by a number of economic development groups and organizations across the country. CBCEDA and its partners released a five-year Strategic Economic Action Plan in August of 1994. The Action Plan embraced a unified approach to economic development within Cape Breton County. The partnership embodied a sense of shared determination. The one hundred and thirteen recommendations in the Action Plan were considered by partnership within the context of each organizations' mandate, responsibility and resources. According to the KPMG Report- Sept. 1998, CBCEDA along with its partners have provided evidence to suggest that the Action Plan recommendations have contributed noticeably to strengthening foundations fundamental to eventual development of Cape Breton County as a regional growth centre.
The Authority has a mandate to promote and facilitate economic development including community-based development. It is one of several regional development agencies within Nova Scotia and works in partnership with Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, Human Resource Development Canada, University College of Cape Breton, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, NS Community College - Marconi Campus, school board, private sector, and the community. Through effective partnering in the development of projects and initiatives, CBCEDA us able to leverage significant dollars to Cape Breton County.
CBCEDA's Board of Directors represent a wide range of sectors within Cape Breton County. The Development Authority currently employs six full-time staff and one contract position representing all communities in Cape Breton County. As require by contract, CBCEDA continues to evaluate its programs, projects and initiatives according to specific guidelines. The Annual Report contains the financial information from CBCEDA's audited statements as of March 31, 2000.
For Cape Breton County, this is a new period of opportunity and challenge; a time for more focused application of scarce resources on projects and initiatives of strategic value to the County. CBCEDA is a vehicle appropriate to the development task at hand.
For a complete copy of CBCEDA's Annual Report please contact: Eileen Lannon Oldford, Chief Executive Officer, CBCEDA.

Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority Evaluation Project, Internal Analysis
Prepared By: ASAP Call Centre
Executive Summary
When reviewing the results of the internal evaluation conducted by CBCEDA you cannot help but be impressed by the consistently high approval rated demonstrated by this report. The results of the analysis of the data described by this report are consistent with the analysis of the data from the independent third party evaluation conducted by ASAP Inc. from an entirely different sample of clients.
The two separate evaluations, conducted independently, give merit to the overall results of this report. CBCEDA personnel have demonstrated a consistent record of excellence in administering their process and service of their clients. This is attested to by CBCEDA's overall approval rating of 98%
For a complete copy of the CBCEDA Evaluation Project, Internal Analysis please contact: Eileen Lannon Oldford, Chief Executive Officer, CBCEDA.

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