Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
To view PDF files, you must have a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available as a free download.
Creating Opportunities Consultations
Adding Value in Rural and Northern Manitoba
Services and Manufacturing
OPPORTUNITIES
A number of opportunities exist to develop specific industries that have not been mentioned elsewhere in this report. Manitoba is uniquely situated to provide manufactured goods and services to the mining and oil and gas industries in western Canada, the United States and the world. Manitoba’s advantages include a strong equipment manufacturing base, lower operating costs and greater availability of skilled labour. Other opportunities identified included manufacturing goods with recycled materials, winemaking from Manitoba-produced fruit, micro-brewing and natural cemeteries.
Rural Manitobans are excited by the opportunities to develop new industries and expand existing industries in their communities. However, individuals and communities sometimes find that acting on these opportunities is a daunting task; they need access to the knowledge and resources that can help them.
CHALLENGES
- Financial – Research, development and marketing costs can be a barrier to innovative industries. Funding is needed to develop businesses past the feasibility study stage. A shortage of local risk capital and equity funds is a limiting factor.
- Human Resources – Potential entrepreneurs need access to training and advice on starting a business. Some existing, small rural industries have staff that need training in areas such as human resources, management and the use of technology. The availability of qualified trades people is also of concern to the development and growth of manufacturing businesses. Housing availability and costs are also barriers to attracting employees.
- Community Capacity – Local demographic factors, such as rural depopulation and aging, or undertrained work forces, can hinder the attraction of new businesses and the retention and growth of existing value-added businesses.
- Infrastructure – High speed Internet and cellular phone coverage for rural residents is becoming increasingly important to developing new opportunities. The quality or extent of road, rail and sea transportation infrastructure is also a barrier to developing some industries. Individual communities may find it difficult to provide the infrastructure needed by major industries.
- Regulations – In some cases, regulations limit the potential for development of some specialized enterprises and in others, stronger regulations are needed to keep consumers safe. There is also a desire for streamlined delivery of information, so that details of new regulations reach the public, and explanations of all regulations on specific industries can be obtained through a single contact.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Governments, communities and industries should work together
to:
- Research, develop and commercialize new industrial opportunities with particular focus on the local manufacturing of specialized equipment needed by existing and future industries.
-
Develop a skilled rural workforce by:
- Promoting high school vocational training and postsecondary education to provide a skilled workforce for local industries.
- Attracting professionals and skilled immigrants to rural communities.
- Explore ways to support small business development by simplifying regulations and/or creating programs that place newer or small industries on an equal footing with larger, established industries.
- Examine present transportation infrastructure for barriers to the movement of value-added products to markets and to develop strategies to address those barriers.
- Explore ways to help with project management and implementation of community economic development projects.
