Town council will hear a presentation tonight from Rainy River Future Development Corp. chair Russ Fortier regarding enhancing the RRFDC’s economic development activities with Fort Frances.
Fortier will submit to council a short proposal outlining a working relationship with the RRFDC, as well as an initial action plan addressing investment attraction, business expansion and retention, and tourism strategies.
While more details of the relationship and plan will be revealed at tonight’s council meeting, it is known the enhancement to the current level of services may come at no additional cost to the town beyond the $7 per capita it already pays to the RRFDC.
This is possible due to the recent proposal currently under FedNor review.
Should FedNor approve this, the RRFDC will be in a position to hire additional staff with financial resources for three years to assist in the provision of services to the rural and agricultural communities of the district.
This, in turn, will allow the RRFDC to reallocate about $50,000 in funds toward Fort Frances-related projects, Fortier explained.
The town then will be able to provide additional funds to those projects under an amendment with FedNor—should council want to expand on them.
Tonight’s council meeting starts at 6:45 p.m. It will be preceded by the committee of the whole, which will meet at 5, but is expected to be in-camera until 6:20.
Other business at tonight’s meeting will include: •a bylaw to enter into certain lease agreements at the Fort Frances Municipal Airport;
•a bylaw to authorize the submission of an application under the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative for renovations to the Portage Avenue underpass;
•a verbal report from CAO Mark McCaig regarding “Hockeyville”;
•information on the “Essential of Municipal Fire Protection” seminar slated here Jan. 31;
•an invitation from the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce to sit on the business retention and expansion task force;
•a list of the various conferences in 2007 that council and town staff may be attending; and
•a request from Fort Frances Police Services Board regarding Bylaw 66/90-B (snowmobile access routes).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
