Focus on Sustainable Development
The word “sustainability” shows up in a lot of grant applications and strategic plans these days. But what does it actually mean when you’re talking about rural economic development? Is it about environmental practices? Economic resilience? Social equity? The answer, according to Community Futures and partners working across Prince Edward County, is all of the above.
“True sustainability has to work on three levels simultaneously. Economic—can people make a living here year-round? Environmental—are we protecting the natural assets that drew people here in the first place? And social—are we building communities where everyone can thrive, not just a select few?”
Let’s start with the economic piece, because that’s often where sustainability efforts run into their biggest challenges. Many rural regions have an economy heavily tilted toward seasonal tourism. Summer brings visitors, jobs, and revenue. Winter brings quiet streets and tight budgets.
“You can’t build a sustainable local economy when most of your workforce is unemployed half the year. That means we need to diversify what’s happening here economically, create businesses and jobs that sustain families through all four seasons.”
That diversification is happening, but slowly. Year-round businesses—from advanced manufacturing to professional services to creative industries—are taking root. Community Futures has been supporting this shift, helping entrepreneurs who are building businesses designed to operate twelve months a year, providing stable employment and economic activity even when the tourists go home.
Then there’s the environmental dimension. The challenge is balancing growth with preservation, welcoming development without destroying the very things that make the place special.
Some of the most interesting work happening in this space comes from unexpected sources. Take the rammed earth wall project by Dropseed Nursery and Aerecura Sustainable Builders. It’s a demonstration of how infrastructure can be created using locally-sourced materials and traditional techniques that have minimal environmental impact. The project serves as both a practical solution and an educational tool, showing what’s possible when builders think beyond conventional methods. Watch the video below to see the rammed earth bench Dropseed and Aerecura made!
Agriculture, too, is evolving. More farmers are exploring regenerative practices—building soil health, reducing chemical inputs, managing water more carefully. It’s not just about being good environmental stewards, though that matters. These practices also make farms more resilient to climate variability and can improve long-term productivity.
Community Futures has supported several agricultural businesses making this transition, recognizing that helping farmers adapt to climate change isn’t just environmental policy—it’s economic development and food security rolled into one.
But perhaps the hardest part of sustainability to get right is the social piece. Economic growth and environmental protection don’t mean much if communities become unaffordable, exclusive, or leave people behind. This is where the conversation gets uncomfortable, because it forces questions about who benefits from development and who doesn’t.
“We’re seeing housing costs rise faster than local wages. We’re seeing food insecurity persist even as the economy grows. We’re seeing young families struggle to find affordable childcare. Those are all signs that our growth isn’t as inclusive as it needs to be.”
It’s ambitious work, and there are no simple solutions. Creating year-round employment, protecting natural resources, making communities affordable and inclusive—these goals sometimes pull in different directions. Real sustainability means finding ways to balance them, to make trade-offs thoughtfully, and to keep working toward systems that can support both people and place over the long term.
Community Futures continues to support businesses and initiatives working toward these goals, understanding that true sustainability isn’t achieved through any single project or program. It’s built gradually, collaboratively, and with commitment to a future where economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social well-being reinforce rather than undermine each other. Our principle is simple but powerful: leave it better than you found it.
Watch on Youtube: Focus on Sustainable Development.
