Funding secured for economic development office in Rainy River

The Rainy River Future Development Corp. was given $50,000 in FedNor funding this year and next to maintain its office in Rainy River.
The office there had opened its doors last year, with Dan Wright hired as an additional economic development officer.
Local MP Robert Nault said yesterday he believed the storefront office in Rainy River has worked well so far, and was glad its funding was secure until 2001.
Nault said he’s always maintained the RRFDC has to be perceived by the district as a regional development corporation, not just a Fort Frances-based operation.
“It’s district. It has a regional board of directors,” he stressed. “[It’s] a regional agency that has the mandate to follow a vision of economic development for the whole district.”
All three of the RRFDC’s economic development officers rotate through the Rainy River office, something which helps bring it out to the west-end.
“Having an office there certainly gives visibility and the opportunity to the business community down there to have access without having to drive an hour down the road,” Nault said.
“Time is money. You don’t want to spend two hours of your day driving to a half-hour meeting,” he argued.
Ralph Hunsperger, who sits on the RRFDC’s board of directors, agreed maintaining the office in Rainy River is very important. He noted despite concerted efforts by the board to promote a district-wide image, “too much of an attitude of them and us” still remains.
By having the Rainy River office, Hunsperger said it helps break down those attitude barriers.
“It’s important to the district,” he remarked. “The people in the west-end have somebody they can relate to more than can be expected in Fort Frances.
“Having said that, [the office] would not have to be in Rainy River,” he added. “It could be in Stratton–and there would be a presence.”