Program outcomes and performance measures
The ROD Program outcomes and recommended performance measures are listed below.
Applicants are required to describe in the application how their Project activities will tangibly support the ROD Program’s outcomes.
In the application, select the performance measures that best align with your project’s intended outcomes, identify targets and the collection methods. For each outcome, you may select multiple performance measures. Please note that not all measures will apply to every project.
For further detail on how Projects are evaluated based on the program outcomes and performance measures, please refer to the selection process section to see the assessment criteria.
Businesses attracted, retained and expanded
The number of businesses that have opened, remained and/or grown within a community that could reasonably be attributed to the activities of the Project.
Recommended performance measures:
- number of businesses directly engaged in the project
- number of businesses attracted
- number of businesses retained
- number of businesses expanded
Economic barriers addressed in Rural Ontario including those of Indigenous communities
The reduction of obstacles that hinder Rural Ontario communities, organizations or Indigenous communities from benefiting from growth and development; and can be reasonably attributed to the activities of the Project.
Recommended performance measures:
- number of economic barriers addressed
- number of opportunities addressed
Increased capacity and effectiveness for rural Economic Development
The process of strengthening people, organizations and communities’ knowledge and skill sets to undertake and manage their Economic Development efforts.
Recommended performance measures:
- number of completed studies and plans
- number of marketing materials that were developed
- number of impressions (reach) related to marketing of economic development opportunities and events (e.g. website visits, social impressions)
- number of project events
- number of participants at event
- level of satisfaction with event
- intent to adopt the information learned by participants
Investment attracted or retained
The attraction of new investments from public and private sources or the retention of investments in a community that might not have occurred without the activities of the Project.
Recommended performance measures:
- dollars of investment attracted
- dollars of investment retained
Jobs attracted or retained
The number of new paid positions created during or after the Project that will result in longer term jobs that can be directly attributed to Project activities, which otherwise may not have been created; and/or the number of existing jobs that will be maintained within a community during or after the Project that can be directly attributed to Project activities and may otherwise have not been retained.
Recommended performance measure:
- number of jobs attracted
- number of jobs retained
Partnerships that strengthen local economies and resiliency
Partnerships between 2 or more communities, that agree to work together to drive growth and adapt to economic circumstances. Collaborative partnerships help pool limited resources, both human and financial to increase the Project's effectiveness.
Recommended performance measures:
- number of Partners involved in the Project
- number of municipalities/ local services boards/ Indigenous communities impacted by the Project
Transformed or modernized Community Assets that drive economic growth and resiliency
The enhancement of physical Community Assets that have been identified as economically important to the community. The improvement would lead to the rehabilitation and renewal of the assets that preserves and enhances the unique character of the community.
Recommended performance measures:
- dollar value of rehabilitated and redeveloped buildings and structures enhancement
- number of rehabilitated historic buildings or structures
- number of rehabilitated tourism asset(s)
- number of redeveloped vacant and/or underutilized buildings
- number (kms) of rehabilitation of a recreational trail
- number of enhanced rural downtown and commercial areas
- number of visitors/attendance year before enhancement (e.g. 5,000 visitors in 2025)
- number of visitors/attendance year after enhancement (e.g. 5,800 visitors in 2026)
Workforce development challenges addressed
Workforce challenges are acted on, fostering an adequate, equitable and/or stable Workforce in a community that could be reasonably attributed to the Project activities.
Recommended performance measures:
- number of Workforce development challenges or opportunities addressed
- number of marketing impressions (reach) related to opportunities and/or events
- number of Project events
- number of participants at events or in Project
- number of people trained