| | UPDATE - BVI Pilot Project Evaluation Results
Malatest, a program evaluation and market research company, was contracted this past summer to do an independent evaluation of the results of the BVI Pilot Project. The evaluation included an on-line and telephone survey of participants. Overall, the results of the evaluation demonstrate that the pilot project was a success. Highlights of the participant’s responses included:
- 91% felt participation was worthwhile;
- 93% would recommend the BVI to other communities;
- 91% felt that the priority actions developed were valuable, and 90% thought they were reasonable and attainable;
- 94% have a better understanding of the opportunities for improvement in their community; and
- Three of four communities successfully chose priority actions and formed working groups at their Focus and Action session. Of those, 75% agreed that the community has taken steps to advance at least one priority action.
A pdf of the full evaluation report is available here.
Further background on the BVI pilot project, along with individual community results and priority actions can be found below.
BVI Background and Individual Community Results
The Rural Development Division at Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development recently completed a Business Vitality Initiative (BVI) Pilot Project in four rural Alberta communities. The BVI helps communities to assess their capacity to work with and support entrepreneurs, and to foster small business growth.
Castor, Hinton, Peace River, and Vulcan were chosen as the pilot communities, representing a range of different populations, economic profiles, geographies, and overall rural development needs. ARD partnered with the Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL), who developed the BVI tool, to facilitate the community sessions.
At the community level, the BVI involves two, three hour sessions, and is based on an "Assess-Focus-Act" process. Each community has a local community champion and steering committee. The first session is an assessment session where 20-40 people are invited representing the business sector, community leaders, and a cross section of citizens (youth, seniors, social sector etc.). The second session, the focus session, is open to the community at large, and concludes with the community identifying 3-4 short term, specific actions they want to undertake to make their community more entrepreneurial and business friendly. Working groups are formed to work on and advance each action item.
Our goal was to test the overall usefulness of the BVI tool as a potential addition to the community building "toolbox" for rural Alberta communities, and to assess and develop options for a sustainable BVI delivery model. Preliminary results were positive, and ARD is now undertaking a full evaluation of the pilot project.
Community reports are available below including examples of the actions each community identified to support their entrepreneurs and foster small business growth. Examples of the actions identified include main street revitalization, development of a business incubator, an opportunity identification session for youth and young adults, and an expanded tourism development initiative.
Castor
 
Castor, Alberta and Mike Stolte of the CIEL facilitiating Castor BVI process
Phase Two Focus and Action Report
Assessment Summary
Complete Phase One Assessment Report
Hinton
Hinton BVI procss, deciding actions
Phase Two Focus and Action Report
Assessment Summary
Complete Phase One Assessment Report
Peace River
 
Mike Stolte of the CIEL above Peace River and Peace River BVI presentation
Phase Two Focus and Action Report
Assessment Summary
Complete Phase One Assessment Report
Vulcan
 
Mike Stolte of the CIEL and Vulcan's primary tourist attraction and Town of Vulcan, Alberta
Phase Two Focus and Action Report
Assessment Summary
Complete Phase One Assessment Report |
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