The Southern Labrador Development Association was incorporated in 1974 and serves eight communities from L'anse au Clair to Red Bay. The Southern Labrador Development Association is a non- profit volunteer organization whose objective is to bring about improvements in the Economic and Social conditions to the residents of the Labrador Straits.

The Community Representatives, who make up the board of Directors, are elected within their respective communities by their community council. The Executive is elected from "the floor" at the annual General Meeting.

The Development Association is constantly seeking new means of providing employment and finding new ideas for developing the area's potential. We also encourage the cooperation and support between the local municipalities, groups, schools and businesses.

In order to maintain the Southern Labrador Development Association as an efficient tool for development, all sectors of the Southern Labrador Development Association are organized into a structure as described below.

Executive:
The Executive consists of President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Executive is responsible for the day to day problems and decisions incurred by the Association. This body has the mandate to meet between Board Meetings and make decisions of a limited nature.

Board of Directors:
The elected community representatives make up the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors along with the Executive meets on a regular basis to decide on the direction the Association will follow. The Board members also help form the committees, which are responsible for carrying out the projects that improve the economic and social conditions of the area.

Committees:
Active committees are the backbone of any group. Everyone on the Board of Directors is encouraged and welcomed to play an active role.

The SLDA is a major voice for the eight communities, which it serves. Some of the major accomplishments of the SLDA are as follows:

• Partners in Learning
  
• Partners in TeleCentre and related IT projects including development of Southern Labrador Tourism Database
  
• Labrador Straits Green House
  
• CASEC on local Rivers
  
• Salmon Enhancement and Land Conservation issues
  
• Original Sponsor of the Labrador Straits Seniors Complex
  
• Marketing of coastal winter highway from Red Bay to Lodge Bay
  
• Original implementers for Ptarmigan Trail
  
• Conservation strategy with Quebec Labrador Foundation
  
• Waste Management Program with the Quebec Labrador Foundation
  
• Regional lobby efforts for transportation (ferry Committee)
  
• Smelter Lobby
  
• Working in conjunction with QLF, private enterprise, councils on various projects
  
• Labrador Straits Community Initiative Application
  
• Eel Harvesting Pilot Project
  
• Community Coastal Resources Inventory Project
  
• Research Project for the Northern Lights Community Radio Station
  
• SWASP
  
• SCP
  
• Target Wages
  
• Tannery Proposal
  
• Service Canada EAS Contract
  
• Service Canada Community Partner Site Forteau March 2006
  
• JCP Program which has turned into a full time position
  
• Experimental Agricultural Peat Bog Project
  
• 5th Annual Craft and Agricultural Fair 2007
  
• Linkages
  
• 2nd Labrador Straits Wildberry Conference 2007
  
• Copper Tooling Designing Project 2006
  
• Wildberry Conference Coordinator JCP 2006
  
• Berry Barren Burning Proposal 2006-2007
  
• Metis Student Position 2005/2006/2007
  
• Caribou Hair Tufting Training March 2007
  
• 2nd level Metal Workshop 2008