Business Expansion and Attraction Task Force
| Local Politics |
(Press release from the City of Williams Lake)
The City’s Business Expansion and Attraction Task Force held its first meeting Wednesday morning and began the task of prioritizing recommendations from the Business Expansion and Attraction Strategy (BEAS) and identifying implementation partners.
(Photo: Glen Holling, Ray Sanders, Tracey Gard, Mayor Kerry Cook, Councillor Geoff Bourdon, and Sheila Mortensen. Missing from the photo is Ross MacLean.)
The Task Force is comprised of:
Tracey Gard President, Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce
Sheila Mortensen President, Williams Lake and Central Business Improvement Area
Ray Sanders Director, Thompson Rivers University Williams Lake
Glen Holling Owner, RE/MAX
Ross MacLean Manager, Gibraltar Mine
Coun. Geoff Bourdon City of Williams Lake
Mayor Kerry Cook City of Williams Lake
"Our Task Force has some very knowledgeable, dedicated, and experienced individuals to help drive our business expansion and attraction strategy," says Mayor Kerry Cook. "Business and job growth can’t be created at City Hall alone. We need to partner with the business community to identify opportunities and ensure the municipality creates an environment that encourages and supports business and industrial development."
The BEAS contains six Strategy Areas that are focused on moving the City towards its strategic objective of a larger and more diversified economy. Within each Strategy Area, there are a number of Strategic Initiatives, many of which will benefit from the support and/or leadership networks of other community partners to deliver. Examples include:
Reviewing the mill rates for major industry
Working with local mining companies to identify material suppliers they use which are located outside of the Cariboo, and engage these suppliers to see if there is potential to locate offices or provide services from Williams Lake
Creating an investwilliamslake.com website to effectively promote Williams Lake to key target markets and sectors
Helping to address local rail issues for industrial clients
Collaborating with merchants and land owners to enhance and strengthen the ongoing growth and attraction of retailers and commercial enterprises in the downtown.
Supporting Thompson Rivers University in developing its northern campus and local program expansion, particularly as it pertains to attracting investment from outside.
"Proper long-term planning reduces the number of studies you have to do," says Councillor Geoff Bourdon. "These are priorities that go past disruptive campaign cycles."
Task Force Chair Dr. Ray Sanders says: "Economic development is about mustering forces to attract and maintain business. Everyone needs a voice.
Remember that every community in North America is trying to expand and attract business. We have to be fundamentally different and creative in our approach. We need to look at all of the reasons someone would want to invest, live, and play in our region and strengthen them. We must also look at the reasons someone would not invest, live, and play in our region and mitigate these. Arts and culture are as important as economic and social issues to business and industry. We need long term, mid range, and short term goals that are driven with vision and passion. Success should be celebrated and clear metrics established."
The Task Force is to report back to Council by December 31, 2011.
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