FORT FRANCES—Just in time for town council to consider as part of the 2007 budget process, representatives from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. spoke at Monday night’s regular meeting about the RRFDC enhancing its economic development activities with Fort Frances.
RRFDC chair Russ Fortier noted the organization is proposing to provide enhanced services to the town for no additional cost over the $7 per capita it currently pays.
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 wish to expand on them.
The town can contribute additional funds to pursue separate economic development projects through FedNor based upon need, added Fortier.
The RRFDC is expected to hear back about the application by the end of this month, and Fortier said the board is “99 percent sure we’ll get it.”
Geoff Gillon, economic development officer for the RRFDC, also was on hand Monday night to explain to council how these enhanced services would be delivered should a service agreement be struck.
He noted RRFDC staff would report directly to the mayor and council, yet work closely with town administration to service clients and forward projects.
The RRFDC also would work in tandem with the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee to determine the levels and types of service it will provide, as well as to develop the economic development strategic plan and actions.
The RRFDC also is recommending council provide EDAC with a fund it would have the authority to spend.
“In order for the aforementioned to occur, we believe the council must create a diverse, well-funded economic development team,” noted Gillon. “This team should be charged with creating and implementing an economic development strategic plan for Fort Frances.”
The RRFDC would work with the town as the “first point of contact” for clients seeking development assistance in Fort Frances, as well as those seeking to purchase industrial and commercial lots here.
It also would assist in co-ordinating a “community economic summit” as a one-day event to gauge opportunities here.
Following the summit, the RRFDC, in conjunction with EDAC and council, would prepare a three-year economic development strategy that should contain the following strategies and actions:
First, the RRFDC would develop a investment attraction strategy. This would involve completing a community investment readiness test data updates and the Fort Frances community profile.
It also would mean reviewing the economic development financial incentives in the Community Improvement Plan and determine what is appropriate for the community, as well as evaluating municipally-owned commercial and industrial land for sale to determine the available services and appropriate selling price.
This would be accompanied by the development of an investment attraction marketing plan for Fort Frances.
The RRFDC also would be involved in completing the business expansion and retention strategy with the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and develop action plans based upon the findings.
As well, it will undertake a series of one-on-one discussion with local businesses to determine potential opportunities in areas such as export and trade.
And the RRFDC would help with a tourism strategy, reviewing the work to date and determining the municipalities’ role in tourism, as well as investigating the potential of increasing seasonal tourism opportunities for Fort Frances and participating in evaluating the Fort Frances Heritage Tourism project.
After the presentation, council agreed to refer the information to the 2007 budget process.
The RRFDC’s presentation Monday night was made at the request of council since the town’s 2007 preliminary operating forecast contemplates the retention of a new position of economic development officers specifically for the Town of Fort Frances (as opposed to the town as part of the district).
Fort Frances Times
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