Yorkton City Council announced the formation of a new regional economic development association in the city that will help bridge surrounding communities, creating opportunity and development.
At a recent meeting of the city's Economic Development Committee a new regional association model was discussed and now the concept has been given the go ahead to unfold.
"The recommended purpose of a Regional Economic Association (REA) is to re-establish the linkages with surrounding communities located with the 80 km radius, which have been broken due to the demise of the Saskatchewan East Enterprise Region," said Faisal Anwar, Economic Development officer to council Monday evening. "It will also create opportunities for communities within this region to work together in fostering the process of sustainable regional economic development."
Anwar says the proposed association can be formed in four steps.
The first being the formation of an association involving Yorkton and other communities such as Esterhazy, Langenburg, Canora, Melville, Ituna, Foam Lake, Churchbridge, RMs and First Nations to share both ideas and resources.
The second step says Anwar is to create a centralized electronic clearing house with monthly meetings between development officers, administrators and others.
Next formal partnerships would be formed with outside organizations that would include the first two actions.
Last but not least, a centralized office would be established in one community that acts on behalf of all others in the region - funded through a formula agreed to by all parties.
"The REA Model was very well received by the participants of the meeting. All participants agreed to re-establish the broken linkages, share the best practiced and create informal partnerships on regional economic development projects," adds Anwar. "The communities in the region were also looking at Yorkton to take a lead role in the development of the REA..."
Steps one and two would have little financial impact on the budget and Anwar says other expenses would be examined in the future as needed.
