Rural Community Development Branch - Service Standards

Our Mandate

• Helping to transform communities by being a catalyst and connector.
• Supporting communities through economic development programs.

Our Services

Community Economic Development Unit:

• Develops tools, resources and researches best practices to support the local economic development efforts of rural communities
• Administers the Ontario Business Retention and Expansion program (BR+E), the First Impressions Community Exchange program (FICE), Community Immigrant Retention in Rural Ontario (CIRRO), community economic analysis tools and downtown revitalization resources and the REDDI website (www.reddi.gov.on.ca).

Finance and Corporate Initiatives Unit:

• Coordinate and support the development of contracting, claims, administration and reporting for RCDB transfer payment and funding programs.
• Provide Risk Management analysis for RCDB programs.
• Leads corporate initiatives such as performance measurement and business continuity planning.

Infrastructure Programs Unit:

• Works horizontally with federal and provincial governments and within OMAFRA to design, develop, implement and case manage infrastructure-related programs.
• Provides project management administration for infrastructure transfer payment programs including: Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), Canada Strategic Investment Fund (CSIF), Building Canada Fund (BCF), Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program (OSWAP), Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF), Rural Connections Broadband Program and Building Broadband in Rural and Northern Ontario.

Regional Economic Development Staff:

• Provide coaching and connections for economic development strategies and relationships that meet local needs.
• Assist with training and analysis to help develop and execute economic development plans.
• Provide consulting and solution development to rural municipalities, organizations, and businesses to help them access products, tools and funding programs.

Rural Programs Unit:

• Works horizontally with other ministries and within OMAFRA to design, develop, implement and project manage economic development related programs, including Rural Economic Development (RED), Ontario Market Investment Fund (OMIF), Ethanol, Biosecurity Program, Rural Summer Jobs Service and the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative (FSTI).

Our Service Principles

When we provide a service to you, we are guided by three key principles which will help us to meet or exceed your expectations.

• We are accountable to you and to the people of Ontario. Programs and services will be delivered according to stated objectives in a consistent manner. We respect your right to privacy and will treat information with confidentiality.
• We are responsive to your needs. We will provide accurate, high quality advice, guidance and information in a timely manner. Information will be clear, up-to-date and easily accessible. We will be transparent in our program guidelines and decision making processes
• We will be professional in our interactions with you. Our programs will be delivered by knowledgeable and competent staff. You will be treated with respect and courtesy.

Our Service Standards

Subject to operational exigencies, in the usual course of business

General

1. We will follow OPS Common Service Standards.

Funding Programs

2. Applications will be reviewed and processed for decision within 45 days of receiving all required information, 90% of the time for the following programs.

• Rural Summer Jobs Service
• Food Safety and Traceability Initiative
• Rural Economic Development Program
• Ontario Market Investment Fund
• Biosecurity Program

Achievement

These results reflect performance from April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012.

Feedback/Complaints

We want to provide the best service that we can and your feedback helps us to improve. If you have comments, questions or concerns about our service we encourage you to let us know. Please contact us by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or use the Feedback Form or send an e-mail to ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca