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Economic development gets $75,000 grant
Susan Thompson
for Smoky River Express
The communities of the Smoky River region are hoping to become more business friendly.
Economic development has obtained a new $75,000 Rural Community Adaptation grant (RCAP), part of $15 million in new funding to increase the capacity of rural communities and regions to adapt, become more resilient and create new, more diverse economic opportunities.
The money will be used to pay for the Business Vitality Initiative (BIV), a program developed by the Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL). The BVI measures the business-friendliness of communities by gauging their capacity to support entrepreneurs and expand business growth. The BVI process compares the results to other communities, and then helps come up with strategies for improvement.
The Centre has already worked with Vulcan, Hinton, Castor and Peace River in piloting the Business Vitality Initiative (BIV) in Alberta. Evaluations in those communities found 100 per cent of the participants involved in the community sessions would recommend the process to others.
“The process will help identify and plan community and regional business diversification priorities,” David Kane, economic development officer.
“We will be forming an advisory committee in the near future, and then a meeting will be planned for February with 15 to 20 people from the community such as business members, council members, and people at large.”
Despite the fact Falher recently left regional economic development, Falher will still be included in the process.
“Falher was part of the grant and we’re still involving Falher because it has a strong business community and it’s important for the region,” Kane says.
The Centre will take the information gathered, evaluate it, and possibly do assessment of the region’s communities, before identifying specific projects to make local communities more business-friendly.
“It could be 12 to 15 short-term projects,” says Kane.
“Then a public meeting will be held so the community can decide which projects are most important. Kane says community involvement is important to get the projects off the ground.
The grant money received will not only cover the cost of the BIV process, but also includes some start-up money for projects.
“Whatever we identify, there’s money there to cover the cost,” he says.
Kane hopes the BIV process will bring more economic opportunities to the region and help Smoky River communities diversify both business and industry.
“Hopefully it will bring a new, outside perspective on what needs to be done to revitalize our communities,” he says.
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