He pointed to the geographic reality of the Westlock region: it sits on the edge of the Edmonton hub.
“You folks, Westlock County, are in the shadow of the circle around Edmonton. You’re in the shadow, you’re not in the hub, you’re in the shadow of that hub. How do you get into that hub? And economic development opportunities could move you into that orbit.”
Working regionally, with the Town of Westlock and the Village of Clyde, is mutually beneficial and development is possible; long-term but “I see that happening.” It would turn the transportation corridor into a “major initiative down the road,” he said. “So I envision a committee with a couple of councillors from each municipality, and then some business people, some people that have an interest in the committee.”
Rec and development go hand in hand
Councillors talked recreation Nov. 17 at a governance and priorities committee meeting, where McDonald made his comments. But, he told them, rec goes hand in hand with regional development. It’s one part of a step-by-step process, he said, part of a marketing strategy that pinpoints what exactly makes a community attractive.
“We understand the county has an inventory, but we need to get a collective inventory. That might be the first step towards a regional recreation master plan,” he said. Essentially, all three munis have independent inventories, but they need to be updated and made regional.
“That consultant will immediately pick that up. ‘What do you offer in the region?’ is the first question they’ll ask and recreation is one of them.” It’s part of a set of “valuable assets” that drive investment: transportation, technology, hospitals, seniors’ homes, campsites, listed McDonald.
“’Why should I move my business here?’ would be the question you’re answering.”
Where is this coming from?
Since October, when a regional economic development consultant, Darrel Toma, told councillors from the three municipalities that they need to start thinking about creating a focused plan for local need and possibility of expansion, there’s been more serious talk of economic potential at the county and elsewhere.
Councillors seem to be invested in the idea, and reeve Jared Stitsen was particularly drawn to gaps in promoting the area.
“We’ve never marketed Westlock County or the town. We need to do something to help ourselves to say ‘Hey, we’re Westlock County.’ You see other municipalities do it, they’re out there looking for people to come and we need to go out there as a group and bring the businesses here,” he said.
“Seek them, not just say ‘Hey, we’re open for business.’ We need to find them and bring them here. … It’s finding those people, having the contacts to get people to come here.”
Currently, those things are being talked about in the tri-CAO meetings between McDonald, Simone Wiley at the town and Ron Cust at the village.
“We’re looking at hiring somebody to come in and help us with a regional economic development plan. I think that’s all part and parcel,” he said.
