Delivery models of local economic development: An analysis of internal and external models in Ontario

Abstract

As the role of an economic development officer (EDO) continues to expand as a profession, the functions and services that an EDO is responsible for change. In recognizing a need to develop an organizational structure for the economic development office to respond to this transformation, this paper conducts a comparative advantage of the two most common economic development delivery models at the local-municipal level in Ontario: the municipal model of economic development, and the not-for-profit corporation model of economic development. The author concludes that neither model is superior since individual municipalities have different characteristics and priorities which help guide each individual municipality to the model that is best for its own circumstances. Keywords: organizational structure, models of economic delivery, municipality, not-for-profit corporation.