Local Development Corporation Creation and Launch

MRB Group’s strong background in local government management, and a record of performance in economic development, made our Local Government Services team uniquely qualified to lead the Canandaigua Local Development Corporation in their start-up phase.

MRB Group guided the organization through New York State’s regulatory landscape for local public authorities and developed governance groundwork to ensure a strong step forward as an economic development organization.

The Canandaigua community has engaged in a thoughtful approach toward shared services in economic development in forming a multijurisdictional Local Development Corporation (LDC). Joining forces between the two municipalities creates scale, market power, and efficiency that will ensure economic success for the community as the tool continues to evolve.

In order to address the Canandaigua Local Development Corporation’s near-term priorities, MRB Group led the Canandaigua LDC’s inaugural Board of Directors in a series of formative activities:

• Policy Facilitation: Deploying our broad experience in the start-up of similar agencies, MRB Group developed a series of model policies to ensure that the Board is in compliance with New York State regulations and in alignment with best practices for Board operations.
• Strategic Guidance: In order to advance to steady state operations, MRB Group facilitated a Board retreat to develop a set of strategic imperatives and a near term work plan to serve as a roadmap for Board performance in the coming years.
• Board Development and Governance: In addition to the development of Board policies, MRB Group created the groundwork for Board and committee operations and assisted all Board members with compliance relative to State-mandated training.
• Board Meeting Facilitation: MRB Group supports Board leadership in the development and distribution of agendas, meeting minutes, financial reports, and reporting/posting requirements.
• Implementation: Once start-up was complete, the MRB Group team facilitated implementation of activities related to the City and Town’s recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to support the LDC with economic development activities, including market analysis, grant acquisition, and investment attraction.

Big Idea

Create and launch a Local Development Corporation (LDC)