The City of North Battleford has a new economic development roadmap. (Supplied/City of North Battleford)

By Angela Brown

Eight-year plan

City council approves new economic development plan

Jan 26, 2023 | 2:29 PM

North Battleford city council approved the city’s proposed Economic Development Strategic Plan for 2023 to 2030 at its meeting this week.

The city’s new economic development manager, Jan Swanson, discussed the document that was previously presented at the city’s planning committee meeting. He also gave some highlights of the plan at the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce chair’s induction ceremony.

City manager Randy Patrick said the plan puts the spotlight on North Battleford and the broader area.

“It is not just economic development for the city, but it’s economic development for the region if people want to participate,” he said.

Patrick said every aspect of the city can be looked at to see how it could potentially work better regionally, such as recreation, policing, as well as economic development.

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The city’s new economic development plan also reflects city council’s strategic plan.

“Overall, it’s leveraging our assets,” Swanson said. “I don’t think that’s been done for a long time. When we think about it that, we are not only a hub but also a gateway.”

The economic development plan supports the city’s strategic goals: to create economic vitality through promoting public and private investments, and making use of the city’s assets such as the local airport, access to the highway, railway, and river, and the strength of its existing business sectors. The plan also aims to promote the city as a regional hub to foster relationships with surrounding communities, improve relationships with area First Nations and neighbouring municipal governments; and promote investments that benefit the region as a whole,

Swanson’s report noted the plan will be brought back to council annually to amend it as required, to align with council’s needs at the time, and to reflect the economic development in the region.

The plan highlights the city’s unique attractions, with the aim to promote them and bring more people and development to the area.

Swanson said the city should be recognized as the regional hub of the North West in Saskatchewan.

Mayor David Gillan pointed out the city is a hub for a wide range of interests and has lots of opportunities to develop further.

He said the city has a large agricultural industry, and the oil industry is not far from the Battlefords as well.

“We are of course a health hub,” Gillan added. “We are also a sporting destination and an historic destination. So, we’ve got a lot of things going for us. We have great facilities, volunteers, and a great business community that’s already here that would be sure to get behind initiatives to support growth of more businesses and the expansion of businesses.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow