B'fords Opportunity Plan moving forward

One of the new economic development initiatives of City Manager Jim Puffalt is moving forward.

Puffalt had been pushing the city to Create an economic development strategy with other partners in the region. At council Monday, a resolution was passed awarding Derek Murray Consulting the contract to complete the Battlefords Community Plan at a price of $45,700.

There had been four bids in response to advertising from the city, and Derek Murray Consulting had the lowest bid of the four.

The firm has completed similar reports from the Regina-Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor, the Prince Albert Regional Economic Development Strategy and the Economic Development Strategy for the City of Regina and Area.

Funding comes from $25,000 available in repurposed funds from the 2014 budget and the remainder is to be included in the 2015 Budget.

In speaking to reporters about what will happen in developing the business opportunity plan, Puffalt said the concept will include a bit of surveying, as well as "a roundtable concept where we invite people to sit down with us and we'll have the information in place as to what's feasible and what's not feasible," and then determine from there what can be done to make the area grow.

The plan is for North Battleford to take the lead, said Puffalt, with the hope of getting other towns, villages, RMs and First Nations in the region involved as well. The hope is to have the roundtable sessions completed and a plan put together by year's end.