Economic development will continue to be the buzz-word throughout 2001, Fort Frances Mayor Glenn Witherspoon predicted Tuesday.
“2001, I think, will again offer lots of challenges in regards to infrastructure and roads,” he noted. “Over the last six to eight months, we’ve really concentrated on preparing our town for future economic development [and] we’ll continue with that.
“We’ve tried to create an environment, as always, that attracts business,” he stressed.
Leading the way with a top-three list of telecommunications, attracting new business, and waterfront development, Mayor Witherspoon hopes Fort Frances will be lively and revamped when the year is over.
“We want this place all dressed up for the World Health Organization conference in 2002,” he said, adding it also will be in good shape for the town’s centennial in 2003.
Following a number of new business ventures and expansions in 2000, the mayor also is optimistic the town’s tax base will continue to grow in 2001 as a number of projects near completion.
“We have a bandwidth we hope to manage through the Fort Frances Power Corp.,” he noted. “And Bell telephone said their switch is almost completed.
“We’re attempting to obtain funds so we can have the [waterfront development] project completed by 2002,” he added.
“Ask our economic development officer–we’re certainly getting a lot of new queries. If one out of 10 materialize, we’ll be doing well,” he stressed.
Although council and Civic Centre administration will be operating on a tighter budget, Mayor Witherspoon said he’s confident it won’t hamper the town’s ability to continue with economic development and infrastructure projects and initiatives in the new year.
“It may be a little tighter for the managers but people won’t see any difference at all in that regard,” he pledged.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
