By paNOW

City looks to build on regional economic partnerships

Aug 20, 2017 | 9:00 AM

A previously scrapped provincial program could come back to the Prince Albert area to encourage job growth, investment opportunities and enhance economic ties.

The concept is one that has been a topic inside city hall for some time, according to agenda documents. Regional economic authorities are also a growing concept over recent decades as a way to encourage business partnerships and achieve like minded goals with shared resources.

At the helm of chalking up a framework for a local authority will be Jennifer Brooks, who pitched her case at councils latest meeting. 

“I am quite excited and feel that the city is quite prudent in looking forward in doing some additional research, data collection in moving forward with a regional economic development authority framework proposal,” she said during her proposal.

Brooks has spent the past five years with the City of Humboldt as the director of communications and community development. She also has extensive experience with the Saskatchewan Rapid Growth Communities Initiative and projects around Calgary.

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Saskatchewan once had 28 REDAs before they were dissolved by the provincial government many years ago, which Brooks said, “left a lot of regions around Saskatchewan adrift.”

There are four steps needed to help re-establish a REDA around the area, a project she believed would take about ten months after it starts in September.

During the development process, economic roundtables will be held with area partners to pinpoint priorities for the area and how the region can come together to achieve like minded economic goals.

As each “model is as unique as its own region,” Brooks said the development task force would find “what is best suited for Prince Albert and its partners and then go forward on the options from there.”

“While this isn’t the creation of a REDA organization, it is again laying a foundation from which to build a stronger organization…and really positioning the city as well as others to move forward, to be able to market and present some opportunities and growth within the Prince Albert region.”

Without debate, council approved administration to develop a contract with a maximum price tag of $25,000 for the project and bring it forward at a later council meeting for final approval.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr