Brock Township benefiting from regional push to grow rural economy

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

BROCK: Councillors heard, at their Monday, April 13th meeting, during a detailed presentation, a regional push to strengthen the rural economy is gaining traction across Brock.

Stacey Jibb and Jessica Rhynas, of the Region of Durham, outlined progress on the Growing North Durham: Rural Economic Development Action Plan, pointing to a year of increased collaboration, business support, and targeted investment efforts.

“This plan is really about a north Durham-wide approach,” Ms. Jibb told council. “It’s not just one municipality working alone, it’s about partnerships and making sure Brock benefits from the broader regional effort.”

Endorsed in early 2023, the plan sets out a roadmap, to support economic growth in Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge through to 2027. It is built around three pillars: People, Places, and Prosperity, each focusing on different aspects of rural development.

Ms. Jibb noted, success, so far, has depended heavily on cooperation between: regional staff; municipal officials; and local business organizations, such as the Brock Board of Trade and the South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation.

“Regular communication and collaboration have been integral to implementing the plan,” she said. “We’re seeing that pay off in tangible ways.”

Under the 'People' pillar, efforts have focused on workforce development and business support. Regional staff worked with partners, to deliver workshops on hiring, retention, and marketing, while the Business Advisory Centre Durham supported dozens of north Durham entrepreneurs, through coaching and training.

Ms. Rhynas highlighted the scale of that support. “We had nearly 90 North Durham businesses participate in workshops, and 47 receive one-on-one guidance,” she said. “That kind of direct support can make a real difference for small businesses.”

The region also launched its 'North of Unexpected' talent attraction campaign, earlier this year, targeting workers in Toronto’s technology and manufacturing sectors.

“We’re trying to tell the story, you can build a career here and enjoy a different quality of life,” Ms. Rhynas explained.

“Brock businesses were a key part of that campaign.”

The 'Places' pillar has focused on promoting North Durham’s identity and supporting local tourism and business visibility. Regional campaigns, such as Gather at the Farm and Shop In Durham Week featured Brock businesses, while online platforms highlighted North Durham content more than 100 times in 2025.

“Brock alone was featured 35 times,” Ms. Rhynas noted. “That visibility helps drive traffic and awareness.”

Meanwhile, more than 50 businesses, across North Durham, received one-on-one support, ranging from funding guidance to site selection assistance.

The 'Prosperity' pillar centres on investment attraction and long-term growth. Regional staff worked with the township to respond to development inquiries, submitting Brock sites for consideration in several cases.

“Out of 26 investment inquiries last year, North Durham sites were included nearly half the time,” Ms. Jibb explained. “Brock was part of that, which is encouraging.”

New building and land inventories, for Beaverton, Cannington and Sunderland, were also developed, to better position the township for future opportunities.

Tourism continues to play a supporting role, with initiatives, like a rural cycling wayfinding program, expected to roll out in 2026.

Looking ahead, both presenters emphasized, the work is ongoing. Priorities include: analyzing results from the recent talent attraction campaign, developing a formal business visitation program, and exploring the potential for a regional job fair.

“There’s still a lot to build on,” added Ms. Jibb. “But the foundation is in place, and we’re committed to continuing this work with Brock and our partners.”

Council members received the report as information, expressing interest in seeing continued progress, as the plan moves toward its 2027 goals.