Duane Hicks
Following up on discussions from earlier this spring, economic development advisor Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corp. made a presentation to town council Monday evening regarding an enhanced economic development services proposal and economic development advisory committee restructuring.
In his report, Gillon said the proposed enhanced services would include a dedicated contract to hire a person for a 3/4-time position, with administration support through the RRFDC.
This position would be based out of the RRFDC office, have its own phone line and e-mail address, and work to enhance their economic development presence through the town’s website.
This person would:
•prepare agendas for the Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) and provide the committee with regular updates on economic development activities;
•provide opportunities to solicit advice on opportunities and/or activities from the EDAC that may provide Fort Frances with economic growth;
•report, when required, to council om activities;
•provide support and input, on request, to town departments on projects related to economic development, such as (but not limited to) signage, industrial park sales, museum/tourism projects, facility usage, and membership in regional organizations;
•assist, when requested, with promoting municipal/community events that advertise the economic prosperity of the community, such as (but not limited to) waterfront development opening, ribbon-cuttings, and expansions; and
•when requested, represent the community at economic development consultations and annual general meetings.
Gillon said the RRFDC is in discussion with FedNor on amending the Fort Frances portion of the Northern Ontario Economic Development Fund—the RRFDC’s funding agreement with FedNor—to get funding for the position.
“It is our hope we will be able to amend the contract to more fully cover the enhanced activities,” noted Gillon.
But while FedNor may amend all or a portion of the contract, it is important that Fort Frances adjust its 2010 budget to include an additional $20,000 for economic development expenses which may not be covered by FedNor, Gillon warned.
“We’re hoping we don’t have to use it. We’re hoping that everything will be the same,” he said.
“We have enough money to do this within the project we have, as long as we can cover expenses in the changed workload,” he explained.
The enhanced services proposal also includes a re-structuring of the current EDAC, with Gillon saying the RRFDC believes its role and mandate must be re-structured in order to allow them the opportunity to work effectively with the RRFDC.
“EDAC will become more directly involved in guiding the activities that the RRFDC undertakes on the town’s behalf,” Gillon said in his report.
“EDAC has requested that council give them the opportunity to review the current terms of reference they operate under in order to make recommendations for change.
“We believe that it is EDAC’s intent to build a degree of autonomy into their mandate so that the committee has the ability to take the initiative and make recommendations to council,” he added.
“In other words, they have some ability to ‘chart their own course.’”
Looking a little further down the road, Gillon said council should recall that RRFDC’s contract with FedNor to deliver services for Fort Frances and the district expires Aug. 31, 2011 and that was a consideration in the proposal.
“We had to try and balance what we’re doing and see how we could do more for Fort Frances . . . over the next year, with an eye to understanding that a year from today, we, the RRFDC, council, and the Economic Development Advisory Commission, I hope, will be trying to evaluate what we should do once the contract ends of Aug. 31.
“Whether that’s staying with RRFDC under a new project with FedNor, with new strategies and new actions and activities for another three years, or to have Fort Frances move on with their own development commission,” he noted.
Coun. Ken Perry, who also sits on the EDAC, felt the proposal was on the right track.
“I like this a lot,” he said.
Mayor Roy Avis agreed.
“I think it’s a good blend,” he remarked. “We can’t afford to have our own system at the present time.
“As we move forward, I hope we can make this work and make it viable ” the mayor added.
