Good Role Model: Greater Halifax Partnership

The Greater Halifax Partnership was founded in 1996 to manage the growth of the newly amalgamated Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Previously, a municipal body had handled economic development for the City of Halifax. The amalgamation of four local communities – Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth and Halifax County – into one municipality, needed a focused, united approach to economic development to benefit the new municipality.

Private sector leaders took up the challenge and began forging ties to give Greater Halifax a unified voice and reduce competition between the communities. Within 18 months, the Partnership had brought the private sector and various government agencies together to generate economic growth for the amalgamated community. The organization is jointly funded by the public and private sectors, but I believe the public sector provides most of the Partnership's funding.