(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Aim to spur development

City plans to hire economic development manager

Aug 16, 2022 | 9:38 AM

The City of North Battleford plans to hire an economic development manager to help increase growth.

Council approved the recommendations from administration at Monday’s meeting.

City manager, Randy Patrick, presented the proposal.

“We think that with the current economic environment, it’s a worthy project to start,” he said. “It will take some time to hire. We expect a couple of months in the hiring process, but we wanted to get this started if council lets us.”

The city has some available dollars that are already in the budget it can reallocate to the effort, so there will be no impact to taxpayers.

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Patrick stressed the value in the position.

“I think in a sized city like ours we really have to push to get that development in,” he said. “It’s a major thing with the development of the whole community, for taxes, for jobs. It’s just a positive to build our business, to build it in a proper way. So we’re highly recommending that council take a look at the options we’re providing here.”

Patrick said on a financial side the timing was right since Destination Battlefords requested a smaller funding amount from the city of $40,000 instead of $118,000 this year. There was also money available through what’s known as the city’s regional studies funding.

Council approved three resolutions related to the economic development proposal.

The first resolution was to amend the city’s funding allocation to Destination Battlefords from $118,000 to $40,000 annually.

Coun. Kent Lindgren sits on the Destination Battlefords board on behalf of the city.

“I do believe that this will be in the best interests going forward for both parties…,” he said. “There is some work that needs to be done here but I’m excited for the city.”

Lindgren added that Destination Battlefords has recently gone through some restructuring of the organization.

Mayor David Gillan said it’s encouraging to hear that Destination Battlefords’ board is supportive of the city’s direction.

The second resolution indicated the city would hire an economic development manager effective immediately, and, furthermore, that up to $78,000 of unused Destination Battlefords’ savings would be utilized to fund the position.

Coun. Kelli Hawtin said she was supportive of the motion.

“I do look forward to positive comments from the Hotels Association, the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and others in the community about this approach,” she said.

For the third resolution, the city committed an additional $100,000 from its existing regional study funding to be used for the economic development manager position in 2023 and beyond.

Patrick said the funding will also be used to operate the city’s new economic development department.

In summary, the city will be investing $78,000 plus $100,000 for this department in total to provide the service.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW