Local Economic Development and Tourism
Defining local economic development:
Local economic development or LED is a locally driven process by which government, business, communities and labour work collectively to stimulate and transform the economy and create new job opportunities. LED is not one specific project or programme, rather it is an approach that includes the sum total of the individual and collective contributions of a broad spectrum of the community that build on opportunities and/or address economic development constraints. The aim is to enhance the community’s ability to adapt to and cope with changing economic conditions. LED is also focused on marginalised groups such as women, the disabled and the youth and intends to ensure the reduction of poverty, increased black empowerment in all sectors and the appropriate transfer and development of skills.
A two part approach to LED is implemented by the Drakenstein Municipality. The first focuses on growing and broadening participation in the economy and the second on reducing poverty. Within each part three clusters of intervention have been identified as reflected in the diagram below.
Given this mandate, the Drakenstein Municipality established a Local Economic Development & Tourism Unit to coordinate Council’s programme in promoting Local Economic Development.
The unit is responsible for the following specialist functions:
- Investment Promotion and Marketing
- Developing Economic Policy / Strategy
- Tourism Development
- Tourism Promotion
- Provision and Facilitation of Business Support Services
- Implementing Skills Development Programmes
- Informal Trading support
- Implementation of Sector Support Programmes in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism & SMME’s
- Conducting regular Economic Research
- Providing support to Community Festivals / Events
- Coordination of Strategic Projects in the Municipality