About us
The Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation (EVEDC) is one of 19 Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs) in the province mandated to develop and implement regional Strategic Economic Plans (SEPs). REDBs were established in the mid-1990s, following an extensive review of community economic development, which resulted in the recommendation of a community-based regional approach to economic development, guided by long-term planning.
OUR VISION
The Exploits Valley consists of cooperative communities and individuals with a good quality of life, positive attitudes and a commitment to self-reliance, creating a strong climate for business and employment opportunities.
OUR REGION
The Exploits Valley Region (Zone 12) is located in the geographic centre of the Island of Newfoundland. The pattern of economic development in the Exploits Region is based on industrial development and natural resource extraction moreso than the fishery. While coastal communities in the region still depend on the fishery to some limited degree, it is of much less importance to the overall regional economy than in most other regions.
The zone breaks down into three sub-regions, with different but inter-dependant sub regional economies. The coastal region (Botwood, Peterview, Northern Arm, Fortune Harbour, Cottrell's Cove, Point of Bay, Point Leamington, Glovers Harbour, Leading Tickles and Norris Arm) is related to the marine environment - fishery, aquaculture, and shipping with manufacturing emerging in Point Leamington, and coastal tourism becoming increasingly important.
The central region (Grand Falls-Windsor, Bishop's Falls) is the industrial, service and government centre for all of Central Newfoundland and contains the bulk of the regional population. Mining, commercial, retail and government services provide most of the employment.
The interior region (Badger, Buchans, Buchan's Junction and Millertown) is dependent on mining and forestry. The mining sector is experiencing significant growth, spurred by the start of production at the Duck Pond mine in 2007.
The Exploits Valley has 19 communities, 12 of which are incorporated and seven smaller, unincorporated areas. Grand Falls-Windsor has over half the region's population and is the regional service centre for a catchment area of over 80,000. Other larger towns in the region are Bishop's Falls and Botwood each with populations of well over 3,000, while all other communities have less than 1,000.
The Exploits region has a total population of 26,519 (2006 census), down 1.6% from 26,958 in 2001. As with most rural Newfoundland communities, the greatest population declines have come in the younger age categories, and the Exploits Valley is no different. However there were some communities that experienced growth, such as Grand Falls-Windsor (+1.6%, or 118 people), the four unincorporated census subdivisions (Buchans Junction, Wooddale, Red Cliff and Cottrells Cove, Fortune Harbour) and Norris Arm (+8.1%, or 68 individuals).
OUR ECONOMY
The Exploits Valley has a greater percentage of employment in the primary industries, manufacturing & processing, and trades, transport and equipment operators than the provincial averages. However, the percentage of workers in management, business and finance, applied sciences, and government (health and education) is less than the provincial standard. The main employers in the region are the Central-West Health Care Board, Teck-Duck Pond Mine, Provincial Government offices and the Central Nova School Board
By gender, the largest occupation for females is sales and service followed by business and finance, while for males it is trades and transport, followed by primary industries. In 2004 there were 1,615 businesses in the region. Of these approximately 66.4% had less than five employees.
LOCATION
The EVEDC is located on 5B Bayley Street, Grand Falls-Windsor next to Coca Cola. Our office hours are 8:30a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.