FORT FRANCES—After months of preparation, the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Rainy River Future Development Corp. and Town of Fort Frances, will be publicly launching a new business retention and expansion survey this coming Monday (March 19).
The launch will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the boardroom at the RRFDC office (608 Scott St.) and all Fort Frances businesses are encouraged to attend.
“The purpose of the launch is to get businesses on board, and to let them know we’re going to be coming to them and requesting they do some surveys,” said community development officer Kerri Dittaro, who started working on the survey in January along with the local business retention and expansion task force.
“We also want to provide a time for them to ask any questions about what has been done in the past and what will be done in the future,” she added, noting Crystal Godbout, co-ordinator of the business retention and expansion survey conducted here back in 2001, will be on hand.
“If there’s any businesses there that are willing to put their names down at that time, that would be wonderful,” said Dittaro.
Even if they don’t sign up at that time, Monday’s launch will be followed by a promotional campaign to get local businesses on board.
“We’re hoping to get 100 business surveys completed,” said Dittaro. “It’s going to be a long process, but it’s going to be very valuable information.
“Maximizing the survey responses gives the community clearer representation of the issues facing the entire business community,” she added.
Dittaro noted she wants to start conducting surveys in April.
The survey is “in-depth,” and will take about an hour to complete. Dittaro, or possibly a trained volunteer, will be sitting down with each participating business and personally conducting the survey.
Dittaro will be entering survey data as she goes along, with survey analysis to start by the end of May or June.
The business retention and expansion task force then will put together a report and create a long-term action plan based on the survey findings.
The business retention and expansion task force consists of Dittaro, Dawn Booth, Christine Denby, Barb Cournoyer, Nancy Daley, and Kevin Nielson.
Other members include Cathy Emes (Chamber of Commerce), Jane Gillon (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines), Geoff Gillon and Crystal Godbout (RRFDC), Coun. Tannis Drysdale (Town of Fort Frances), Alan Tibbetts (EDAC), Gary Rogozinski (Abitibi-Consolidated), Anne Renaud (Confederation College), Russ Ling (BIA), and Couchiching First Nation economic development officer Christine Jourdain.
The business retention and expansion program is defined as “an internationally-recognized, community-based, volunteer-driven economic development tool that responds to business needs and issues.”
It also “encourages communities and local businesses to work together, enhances job creation and economic prosperity, and encourages the growth and stability of local business.”
Fort Frances Times
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