Fostering Regional Prosperity through Cross-Sector Workforce and Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships

Southeast New Brunswick is navigating a generational shift in workforce needs, with critical gaps in talent, youth underemployment, and barriers for newcomers and international students. Economic development efforts were siloed across jurisdictions and sectors, creating duplication and missed opportunities. Recognizing the need for unified regional action, Southeast RSC-ED launched a bold initiative to connect municipalities, educators, employers, and nonprofit partners through shared workforce and entrepreneurship strategies.

Three flagship programs were launched or expanded:

1. Southeast Labour Market Partnership (SLMP):
   SLMP established a governance model with strategic working groups focused on workforce development and retention. It finalized a regional RFP to guide the 2025–2030 workforce strategy, informed by data, lived experience, and multi-sector input.
2. Connector Program:
   Designed to bridge job seekers and employers, the Connector Program targeted newcomers, international students, and underemployed professionals. It facilitated 91 professional matches—165% above its goal—engaged 466 participants and led to 21 confirmed job placements.
3. IDEA Centre:
   A hub for youth entrepreneurship, the IDEA Centre helped high school students develop and launch business ideas. It achieved 96% of its enrollment target and began work to expand into Francophone schools, ensuring bilingual inclusion.

Initial challenges, misaligned timelines, inconsistent communication, and siloed engagement, were addressed by appointing an Economic Liaison Officer, enhancing partner coordination, and creating an Aftercare Program to track outcomes and maintain momentum.

These integrated efforts created 36 new businesses, delivered measurable improvements in service alignment, and empowered youth, newcomers, and local employers alike. The combined initiatives generated $4.58 million in economic impact in 2024 alone, yielding a return of $2.41 for every dollar invested or a 141% return on investment. More importantly, they fostered trust and collaboration across regional sectors.

Target Audience:

The initiative reached a broad and diverse audience:

• Job seekers (including newcomers, youth, and underrepresented groups)
• High school students (Anglophone and Francophone)
• Employers, industry professionals, and economic stakeholders
• Municipal leaders and public sector partners from 13 communities

Community Collaboration – Category Alignment:

This initiative represents authentic and sustained collaboration. Southeast RSC-ED worked hand-in-hand with post-secondary institutions, municipal staff, school districts, provincial agencies, and nonprofits. Every action, strategy design, funding, and delivery was a shared effort. Outcomes were mutually beneficial and grounded in local priorities, ensuring relevance and buy-in from all partners.

Sustainability

Place: Programs were tailored to include rural, bilingual, and equity-deserving communities.

Processes: Vision 2035 and the SLMP Strategy provide long-term guidance, while the Aftercare

Program ensures continuity.

Mindset: Collaboration is not an add-on—it’s the default. Shared leadership, transparent data, and inclusive governance are now regional norms.

Conclusion: This initiative redefines what’s possible through community collaboration. By bringing together diverse partners under a common vision, Southeast RSC-ED has created a lasting framework for inclusive prosperity. It is a model of how local leadership, when aligned and empowered, can generate systemic change with measurable, sustainable impact.