Efforts to promote the entire Battlefords region as a place to do business are not slowing down in the least.
This past week the Battlefords Regional Opportunities Advisory Committee held their latest meeting, something they have been doing quarterly for some time.
According to City Director of Economic Development Jennifer Niesink, it was a meeting of the surrounding communities and organizations.
“It’s really great to have everyone at the table because it gives us that opportunity to kind of come together and present the whole community to potential investors,” said Niesink.
For the latest meeting this week the guest speaker was Kevin Fruhstuk, manager of minerals, from the Ministry of the Economy.
His presentation focused on the ways the ministry attracts large businesses and industries to Saskatchewan, presenting economic data and setting up tours to various locations.
Niesink said his presentation explained what happens at the provincial level, providing everyone more insight into how big business is approached.
According to the City’s news release about the meeting, Fruhstuk pointed to the favourable strategic location of the Battlefords region and its capacity to house various industry sectors, including retail, hospitality, entertainment, agriculture or heavy industries.
There was also a commitment from those in attendance to assist in completing the Economic Profile for the region that has been started, and a new initiative to develop a potential pool of investment dollars will be formulated as well.
“We are working to put together a package that we can provide to potential investors that promotes the area as a whole,” Niesink said.
The idea is to present the area as a “larger community” rather than just the City. That goes a long way for people who don’t know the area, she said.
“We have an amazing lifestyle here to celebrate," said Niesink.
The other thing they want to be able to do, she added, is respond quickly to any opportunity that comes their way and be open for business.
The advisory committee itself came out of the Battlefords Regional Opportunities Plan, which was an early initiative of City Manager Jim Puffalt after he arrived in North Battleford. Puffalt pushed for an economic development strategy involving regional partners, and Derek Murray and Associates completed a study.
That study was presented in October 2015, with formation of the advisory committee being one of its key recommendations.
Despite the slowdown seen throughout Saskatchewan the Battlefords region has continued to see economic development and new construction activity.
In its news release this week the city pointed to a number of projects including groundbreaking for the Comfort Inn and Suites hotel, the deal for a new five-cinema Magic Lantern theatre complex, and construction of a new Dairy Queen and a new A&W in the community. A new Kal-Tire is also being built, and major renovation-expansion of Home Hardware in North Battleford and the Discovery Co-op cardlock are also complete.
Niesink points to the continuing activity as positives for the Battlefords region.
“We’re excited to see all the continued re-investment,” Nieskink said, adding “it shows the amount of confidence local investors have.”
