The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) have launched a new pilot partnership with the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation (PRCDC) to implement five key initiatives from the recently adopted 2024–2029 Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan.

The 18-month initiative signals a strategic shift in how the UCPR approaches economic and community development, moving from planning to action by leveraging local expertise.

“This partnership demonstrates our willingness to take concrete action in today’s economic context,” stated Yves Laviolette, Warden of the UCPR. “By collaborating with the PRCDC, we’re banking on what really matters, being the vitality, innovative ideas, successes, and potential of our community’s businesses.” 

The PRCDC will oversee the execution of five priority actions in collaboration with community organizations and local leaders, which include developing a brand and website to promote available commercial and industrial land, establishing a concierge service to centralize and coordinate support requests from businesses and investors, implementing tourism development initiatives to enhance regional promotion and visibility, promoting work-based learning programs to help employers recruit skilled labour, and aligning post-secondary programs with the needs of local employers through collaboration with educational institutions. 

“Community development is about collaborating to act and build together,” stated Luc Filion, Chair of the PRCDC Board. “This unique partnership will enable us to achieve concrete results for the development of the region and help our entrepreneurs through close collaboration with the UCPR and all our community partners.” 

The pilot project is expected to lay the groundwork for longer-term collaboration between the UCPR, the PRCDC, and regional stakeholders, ensuring that economic development efforts remain responsive, inclusive, and community driven.