Community Business Readiness Assessment Checklist
Business Attraction Toolkit for BC Communities
The Community Business Assessment Checklist tool can be used to undertake a quick assessment of the
community’s capacity to be “business ready”. Business ready refers to the community’s ability to
explore, attract, respond and successfully secure the business investment best suited to the location.
The checklist has been organized into economic development functions that support a community to be
“business ready”.
The Investment Readiness: A Community Handbook prepared for the Economic Development
Association of BC (EDABC) in partnership with LinxBC in 2008 was a key source used to
develop this Community Investment Readiness Assessment Checklist. The original version
How
of this tool was developed after the Municipal Readiness for Economic Development
to Use
document created by Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
It is important for the community to identify a staff person responsible for completing and updating this
checklist to support the continuum of economic development. It is recommended that this checklist be
updated annually. A guidance rating is located at the bottom of each economic function to provide a
benchmark for a community to maintain or to attain in that economic development function area. The
checklist may identify areas for improvement and will provide a reference to work from.
As the checklist is a guide, it is important to consider the community size and staff capacity when
reviewing the functions and determining areas for improvement.
Community Business Readiness Assessment Checklist Update – Contact Details and Schedule
Name
Title
Date Completed
Describe how the results and/or progress of the individual economic development functions were
communicated to others associated with Economic Development (Chief Administrative Officer, Council, Business
Improvement Area Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
Next Scheduled Checklist Review (recommended to review and update annually)
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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A. Economic Development Function and Activities
A community focus on economic development is essential to be “investment ready”. Community
economic development refers to a proactive effort by a governing body (e.g. Local Government or a First
Nation) to support, enhance, and expand the local economy.
Community Economic Development Function
1.
Has the community established an economic development committee?
2.
Does the community employ/contract a full or part-time economic development
staff member to deal specifically with economic development matters?
3.
Does the community employ/contract a full or part-time planner, who deals
specifically with land use planning matters?
4.
Does the community have a budget for economic development?
5.
Does the community have an economic development website or an economic
development section on the community’s website?
6.
Does your community partner with independent business groups, the local
Chamber of Commerce, or tourism destination marketing organization to support
economic development?
7.
If appropriate, does your community pool resources with neighbouring
communities to jointly fund/support economic initiatives (e.g. economic
development strategy, tourism strategy, etc.)?
8.
Does your community jointly fund economic development initiatives/programs with
partners (e.g. economic development or tourism strategy)?
9.
Can utility (rail, power, water, roads) representatives be reached with a single
phone call to answer technical or pricing questions?
 Yes
X No
10. Has the community recently worked with any of the following provincial/federal
agencies to learn about new policies, programs, information or issues/trends (e.g.
Federal Departments or Provincial Ministries responsible for Agriculture, Tourism,
Small Business, Economic Development )?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated that the community will score at least 7 out of 10 in this category to be considered
“business ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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B. Designated Community Contact Person(s) for Prospective Investors
Having designated points of contact for prospective investors is essential to successfully attract and
secure business investment.
Designated Community Contact Person(s) for Prospective Investors
 Yes
X No
11. Does the community have a person designated as the main contact on economic
development-related matters for outside enquiries?
12. Is it easy for an outsider to reach the main economic development contact person?
13. Does the main contact person have an “elevator speech” ready? An elevator
speech, is a prepared speech which highlights the community and describes why
the business should locate there.
14. When the initial contact is a senior administrative or elected official, does he/she
have quick and easy access to technical information (either on the website or an
electronic file) related to available industrial/commercial sites in the community?
15. If the contact person is an economic development professional, is that person
familiar with the land use planning, development approvals, and building permit
process in your community?
16. Does he/she have an up-to-date copy of the local Official Community Plan and
Zoning By-law and know Council’s policies on new development proposals?
17. Does he/she have a process for tracking and understanding the reasons why
prospective businesses located elsewhere?
18. Does the community have a person designated as the key contact on land use
planning and development matters?
19. If the contact is a planning professional, is he/she able to respond to economic
development and business enquiries (e.g. industrial site availability, workforce data)
from a potential investor?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated that a community will score at least 6 out of 9 in this category to be considered
“business ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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C. Liaising with Existing Businesses in the Community
It is important to liaise with existing businesses in the community to understand issues that could affect
attraction of new businesses, and retention and expansion of existing businesses.
Liaising With Existing Businesses in the Community
 Yes
X No
20. Does the community have an active business retention and/or attraction strategy?
21. Does any senior member of your organization monitor/evaluate the process of
engagement with existing businesses?
22. Does the community’s elected officials, senior management, economic
development staff and/or planning staff meet regularly (e.g. once every six months
for a breakfast meeting) with local business people, including the Chamber of
Commerce, to talk about their business needs and future plans?
23. Does the community liaise with the local Chamber of Commerce or business
association about economic development issues?
24. Does the community have a Business Improvement Area (BIA) - an area designated
in which businesses and property owners can jointly finance effective marketing,
promotional and revitalization programs for the area?
25. Do community representatives meet with the BIA’s Board of Directors regularly to
talk about local business and economic development matters?
26. Is a contact list maintained of key individuals in the public and private sector who
can act as “problem solvers” or providers of technical or pricing information not
available in-house (e.g. real estate brokers)?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated that a community will score at least 5 out of 7 in this category to be considered
“business ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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D. Business Friendly Land Use Planning
Having a “business friendly” land use planning process in place is another important element of being
“business ready” as it provides investors with certainty. The term business friendly, in the context of
this land use planning process, refers to an approval process that is clearly defined and adheres to a
reasonable time frame (weeks or months, not years) for relatively straightforward applications. This
provides investors with some degree of predictability regarding the time and costs involved in obtaining
the necessary approvals.
Business Friendly Land Use Planning
 Yes
X No
27. Does the community have an approved Official Community Plan?
28. Does the Official Community Plan have one general designation for each of the
basic land use categories such as residential, commercial, heavy and light industrial,
institutional, open space, rural and environmentally sensitive?
29. Does the community have policy intention, regulations and permitted uses in each
land use designation?
30. Does the community have an effective information system that can be used to
provide Official Community Plan and zoning information to prospective
investors/developers (e.g. neighbourhood maps or other street, aerial maps that
are available on the community’s website)?
31. Are policies and/or designations in the local Official Plan general enough so an
Official Community Plan amendment is not required to accommodate most
conventional development proposals in the community?
32. Is the Zoning By-law flexible enough to allow desired development in the
community?
33. Is the establishment of new “home-based businesses” allowed in most areas of the
community, without the need for an Official Community Plan amendment and/or
zoning by-law change?
34. Where allowed, are a wide range of businesses permitted, as well as outdoor
signage/advertising and on-site customer parking?
35. Is the main community economic development contact person knowledgeable
about the Official Community Plan and how these policies and land use
designations may affect proposed development in your community?
36. Are the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws kept up to date (e.g. updated
every five years)?
37. Are the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws available on the community’s
website?
38. Is economic development addressed in the Official Community Plan’s policies?
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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Business Friendly Land Use Planning
 Yes
X No
39. Is the main community economic development contact person knowledgeable
neighbouring Official Community Plans and how these policies and land use
designations may affect proposed development in your community?
40. Does the community have a flow chart or itemized list outlining the steps in the
land use planning and development approvals processes?
41. In cases where planning and development approvals are not handled locally, do you
know which level of government has the responsibility and who your contact is?
42. Does the community have information on how long it takes for a typical planning
application/proposal in your community to be approved?
43. Does the community provide a list in printed and digital formats of all the
application fees and other associated charges or levies that an applicant/developer
would be required to pay in connection with processing a planning/ development
proposal?
44. In cases where special technical studies are required by the community in
connection with land use planning or development proposals (e.g. noise impacts,
hydro geologic assessments), is the community able to advise prospective
applications and developers about the nature, scope, timing and potential cost of
such studies in advance?
45. Do you know if there are land use planning or economic development consultants
who are familiar with and have worked on development projects in your
community?
46. Does the community have an established process for communicating economic
development issues, priorities, etc?
47. Does the community have a designated individual to guide the proponent through
the approvals process?
48. When a development application has been successfully completed, is there a
review of the process with the proponent as part of the community’s customer
services program?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated that a community will score at least 16 out of 22 in this category to be considered
“business ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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E. Commercial/Industrial Land Inventory and Marketing
Having available existing commercial/industrial lands for potential new developments is an important
consideration in business attraction. Some communities may even own and market
commercial/industrial lands.
Commercial/Industrial Land Inventory and Marketing
 Yes
X No
49. Does the community have an overall commercial/industrial land inventory?
50. Has the inventory of commercial/industrial land been compiled into a marketing
package/profile?
51. Is there an area in the community that is planned to be zoned or already zoned for
the purpose of industrial development?
52. Is the inventory updated regularly? (This inventory should be updated at least
quarterly.)
53. Does the inventory provide potential investors/developers with relevant economic
development information such as availability and cost of industrial properties, site
servicing, transportation access, ownership, location, size, identify if it is
privately/public owned, etc?
54. Does the inventory include both publicly and privately owned land?
55. Is the inventory posted on the community’s website?
56. Besides the community’s website, does the community market commercial and
industrial properties in other ways (e.g. advertising, listings on other websites, such
as OpportunitesBC, newspaper, etc.)?
57. Have you contacted a real estate/industrial commercial investment (ICI) broker to
discuss potential marketing techniques?
58. If appropriate, does the community work cooperatively with adjacent communities
to pool resources and information and to jointly market industrial sites for the
region?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated that a community will score at least 7 out of 10 in this category to be considered
“business ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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F. Economic Development Oriented Communications
Ensuring that proactive business and economic development oriented communications are being
undertaken also contributes to being “business ready”.
Economic Development Oriented Communications
 Yes
X No
59. Does your community have a community profile (synopsis of community assets
along with demographic and economic data)?
60. Is it online and updated on a regular basis (e.g. every year)?
61. Does the profile include at least the following elements?

List of photos/other graphics to support written information

The community’s vision statement

Economic and demographic data

References to local business groups

List of major community facilities (e.g. arena or sportsplex, cultural centre, etc.)

List of tourist attractions
62. Has the community recently reviewed and improved the mapping used to illustrate
regulatory and community promotional materials?
63. Does the community newspaper in your area feature stories on local business?
64. Does the main economic development lead maintain regular contact with media
representatives regarding economic development issues?
65. Where appropriate, do you promote dialogue on new development and business
success?
Total Points (1 for Yes and 0 for No)
It is anticipated a community will score at least 9 out of 12 in this category to be considered “business
ready” in this economic function area.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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Community Business Readiness Assessment Scorecard
Community Score
Economic Development Functions
Total Score
7
A. Community Economic Development Function
10
B. Designated Community Contact Person(s) for Prospective
Investors
C.
Target
Score to be
Investment
Ready
6
9
Liaising With Existing Businesses in the Community
5
7
D. Business Friendly Land Use Planning
16
22
E.
Commercial/Industrial Land Inventory and Marketing
7
10
F.
Economic Development Oriented Communications
9
12
Totals
50
70
If your total overall is 50 or higher, your community is business ready! Otherwise, you have now
identified areas for improvement to further support your community economic development efforts in
business attraction.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
2013
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