Community Benefits Network in Prince Edward County

This project, in partnership with The County Foundation (TFC), supports the work of the Community Benefits Network (CBN), a coalition of 23 local organizations working to ensure that new development in Prince Edward County delivers lasting, positive outcomes for the community. With major public and private development projects on the horizon—including housing developments, a new hospital, long-term care facility, school, and water infrastructure—the County is at a turning point. Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) offer a tool to align these developments with community-defined priorities such as affordability, workforce development, and social infrastructure.

Through this four-month research initiative, a graduate intern will lead a jurisdictional scan of rural CBA case studies, identify practical tools and governance approaches, and explore both legal and goodwill-based frameworks that can work in rural settings like PEC. Key deliverables will include a rural CBA case study report, an annotated resource guide, a draft CBA toolkit tailored to PEC, a plain-language brief for community and developer partners, and a final presentation of findings. The goal is to build local capacity, deepen community-developer collaboration, and support more inclusive, equitable development outcomes in the County.

Faculty Supervisor:

Audrey Jamal

Student:

Partner:

The County Foundation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Guelph

Program: