Community economic development through partnerships

Purpose - This paper seeks to present a partnering model pioneered in Sudbury, Canada, that combats fragmentation in the delivery of business support services. Partnerships form the backbone of a comprehensive business support centre. The Sudbury Regional Business Centre brings together banking, government, communications, education, legal, and accounting partners. These partners coordinate their efforts to provide services to area businesses, striving to improve the odds for a dynamic and resilient local economy. This model has been replicated and adapted by various communities across Ontario, Canada's most populous province. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology consists of qualitative research by two participant‐observers. Findings - If a solid business case can be made, banks and three levels of government can be persuaded to act in concert with other partners through a community business support centre; economic upheaval in the Sudbury area precipitated urgency and resolve; several postulates regarding key success factors were supported. Research limitations/implications - The reporting is retrospective; the postulates are examined in a single context. Practical implications - Disparate players can form a working partnership so that business support services from various quarters blend effectively, and are easily accessed to give clients the best help available. Originality/value - This paper describes how a community forged partnerships designed to overcome fragmentation in the delivery of business support services. Comprehensive enterprise support offered by committed public and private sector partners can be channelled through a physically accessible centre. The factors which proved most critical to success are discussed.