PACA METHODOLOGY & STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION
SECTION 6: MAIN FINDINGS OF (PACA) PARTICIPATORY PROCESS
6.1 STAKEHOLDER FINDINGS / LED STRATEGY INFORMANTS
The PACA / Data Collection process employed during the stakeholder workshops made a rapid survey of local economic development opportunities (positives) and challenges (constraints) combined with implementation and action. The key priorities emanating from these workshops are grouped / clustered into sectors of the economy and presented here below. It is important to note that these priorities are based on the participants’ knowledge and experience of the economy of Prince Albert.
AGRICULTURE / GAME FARMING
• Provide emerging farmers with technical and infrastructure support
• Agriculture mentoring programme to developed capaciate emerging farmers / Link emerging farmers with established commercial farmers
• Training Farmers modern and sustainable farming techniques;
Lack of skills on how to ensure that stock is growing well in farming.
• Lack of knowledge/info as to how to start a small business and be successful.
• Promote Agri-Tourism Business Ventures
• Promote agriculture through awareness and education programmes at schools
• Recruitment of youth into sector through graduate placement;
INFORMAL TRADING / SMME DEVELOPMENT
• Farm / Fresh Produce Markets
• Formalisation of Hawkers
• Integrate SMME into mainstream economy through development of business infrastructure
• Truck Overnight Facility
• Poort Pourri Business and Cultural Village OpportunityBusinesses infrastructure in the form of affordable rental units / BEE Hives
• Revive / stimulate informal market in North End (Sydwell Williams Complex)
• Facilitating access to Business Development Services to help startups to develop bankable business plans to be able to access funding
• Facilitating access to business management and entrepreurial training
• Municipal do develop by-laws that promote and encourage informal business
RETAIL / WHOLESALE AND MANUFACTURING
• Attracting retail shops to Leeu Gamka (Pep Stores / Usave etc)
• Agriculture Value Chain Business Opportunities / Local products
• Promote light manufacturing industries
• Affordable market related building rent options
• Developed municipal business incentive policy
• Municipal Incentives for number of jobs created as business retention strategy
• Source local skill and talent to manufacture products unique to area
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BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
• Formalised Sub-Contractor Development Programme
• Lack of Skills
• Training centre for skills development (building, electrical, plumbing etc)
• Enhance municipal building plan approval processes
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT / YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS AND CULTURE
• Improving sport facilities
• Work opportunities for the youth
• Create more cultural programs that can influence the youth
• Support NGO’s that developed talent of local youth
• Avail bursaries for further education and training of youth
• Internship opportunities for unemployed graduates
• Help for children / Children Support Programmes
• No activities and support programmes for disability people
• Old Age Home needed for Leeu Gamka
• Promote social cohesion and nation building across communities
GREEN ECONOMY / ENVIRONMENT / RENEWABLE ENERGY / TECHNOLOGY
• Explore renewable energy solutions (Solar Energy Farming / Wind Farming)
• Unlocking economic potential of Solid Waste Generation (Re-use / Recycle / Reduce)
• Smart City Connectivity / Wi Fi Connectivity
TOURISM / MARKETING / COMMUNICATION
• Developed Tourism Marketing Strategy
• Improve tourism website
• Improvement on communication with all businesses around town to better marketing
• Develop Prince Albert into a Smart City with Free Wifi
• Establish inclusive Annual Calender of events
• Developed local tourist route inclusive of north-end
• Agri-tourism/ Game Farming
• Event Tourism
• Untapped cultural diversity / Arts and Culture Village showcasing local talent and skills handcrafted art
• Cross- Boundary Tourism – Garden Route District
• Community development (create a sense of place/ cleanness)
• Increase physical safe – surveillance cameras on strategic places
• We need to ensure that the town’s heritage resources are preserved, protected and promoted
• Awareness - impact of visual media- marketing (job creation)
• Potential to attract film industry
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CROSS SECTOR FOCUS AREAS
The PACA process uncovered several points which the participants indicated were universally important to all sectors of the local economy.
• There is an urgent need to develop a single brand identity for Prince Albert to maximise the economic value of one logo.
• There is an urgent need for all role-players to gain a more complete understanding of the needs, desires, and constraints of informal traders since these traders form a significant part of the second economy. Attention must be paid to the informal economy, as well as demonstrating understanding of the constrains and potential of informal economy in Prince Albert.
• Developing informal trading by-law to provide guidelines and to ensure enhance framework for economic activities.
• Existing business must be supported and communication amongst businesses must be improved.
• There is an urgent need to develop measures and interventions to attract paying customers.
• Closer working relationship between police and other safety and security agents to prevent and combat crime. All people in Prince Albert, including tourist must feel safe
• Pay urgent attention to the increase of crime, street dwellers and children.
• Focus areas - The elderly is an important source of internal and external income in small towns, which brings private and government pensions into the local economy
• Big Issue- Clean Governance / Improve Service Delivery Standard
• Addressing the negative gateway into town / Intensify cleaning and beautification along main access road.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY
• Measures and Interventions to attract paying customers
• Market Prince Albert as Safe Haven for retirement
• Clean Governance / Improve Service Delivery Standard
• Attracting new investors / businesses (Retail and Light Industrial)
• Improve communication with key sectors in local economy
• Incentives to retain existing businesses
• Enhance credit control and debt collection measures
• Introduce prepaid and smart metering technologies
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