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NOTE: This article is now archived.
Community Economic Development Strategy Approved by Town Council
January 11, 2022Community participation opportunities:
Start by hearing the whole strategy at one of two virtual, interactive sessions.
Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Hear the Plan. | Jan. 17, 2022
Session 1: January 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. – register here (recording here)
Session 2: January 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. – register here (recording here)
Then, take the time to think about what you heard and share your thoughts and feedback with the community in future sessions on how the plan will be implemented.
CEDS- Our Downtown: How to Move from Vacancy to Vibrancy | February 15 from 12 - 2 p.m.
Finding options to revitalize and invigorate the main street corridor and downtown core. How have others done this? What worked, what hasn’t. How can we partner to make this happen? Three speakers will share their experience and best practices on how they approach this complex topic.
Recording
CEDS- Housing - If we don’t build it, they can’t come! | February 15 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Pincher Creek, and the entire region, is facing critical housing shortages. The lack of housing options are making it exceptionally hard for businesses and organizations to retain and attract employees, residents and newcomers. This fact is contributing to a critical shortage of employees right now.
Explore ways to welcome newcomers. Three speakers will share their experiences and best practices on how they approach this complex topic. Share your feedback after the presentations in an interactive session.
Recording
CEDS- Workforce Retention and Attraction | February 16 from 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Finding solutions to workforce shortages to bring new employees to our community and provide options for jobs, skills, entrepreneurship training and becoming a ‘welcoming community’ to integrate newcomers into Pincher Creek. Our guest speakers will share their experiences and best practices on how they approach this complex topic. Share your feedback after the presentations in an interactive session.
Recording
CEDS- Health & Wellness Opportunities | March 15, 3 – 5 p.m. on zoom
Health and wellness business opportunities are growing for those communities that have it at the forefront of their thinking. Hear the options to support growth in this sector of businesses and provide your feedback in a two hour interactive session on how we can maximize the opportunity.
Register for this session here
The CEDS Executive Summary has been accepted as information by Council and is available for review on the Town website here.
Stay up to date with the process and be included in the CEDS Community Engagement contact list by signing up here: https://conta.cc/2BgfOaX
The Town of Pincher Creek approves the Community Economic Development Strategy
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Pincher Creek Town Council approved the Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) at the January 10 Council meeting. This strategy will create a new path to achieve the community’s goal and bring old and new ideas for growth to fruition.
The CEDS includes work on the Business Recovery Support Program (BRSP) and the #LoveLocalPC program which generated over $500,000 in local shopping spending during the pandemic. The strategy is based on a solid foundation of community engagement. Over the past two years, hundreds of one-one interviews, surveys and round table focus groups with businesses and community stakeholders were completed. Key findings based on community input indicate that businesses and residents want to:
• Attract more families to reside in Pincher Creek;
• Create options for Pincher Creek youth to stay and raise their families;
• Provide more good jobs, housing and education options;
• Encourage more businesses to set up in the area; and
• Increase the number of visitors who will spend their money in and around the town.
The CEDS includes four core strategic directions, 30 recommendations and an action plan on how to get it done. The four are 1.“Retain and Expand Businesses in the Community; 2. Attract New Investment & Businesses; 3. Develop a Regional Workforce Initiative and 4. Leverage Existing Assets for a Diversified Economy” with the focus on creating a rural hub around health and wellness, business services and amenities, and develop a transportation and logistics hub.
The CEDS document lays out options for volunteer-based community ‘Action Teams’ to support workforce housing options; focus on workforce attraction and initiate the steps to capitalize on opportunities to improve local assets by increasing local entrepreneurs and fostering local institutions, local infrastructure, local partnerships and local systems including downtown revitalization.
“I am exciting about the findings and recommendations. The CEDS is a five to ten year guiding document that provides clear direction for administration, Council and community leaders to support local business while diversifying our community” says Marie Everts, Economic Development Officer. “I am so appreciative of the businesses and residents who took time to share their opinions, experience and ideas on how we can increase business, job and investment opportunities. We now have ways to overcome some of our existing (long-term challenges) such as housing and workforce shortages. There are solutions we can work on right away.”
The CEDS will kick off with the following community participation opportunities:
Start by hearing the whole strategy at one of two virtual, interactive sessions.
Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Hear the Plan. | Jan. 17, 2022
Session 1: January 17 from 1 to 2 p.m. – register here (recording here)
Session 2: January 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. – register here (recording here)
Then, take the time to think about what you heard and share your thoughts and feedback with the community in future sessions on how the plan will be implemented.
CEDS- Our Downtown: How to Move from Vacancy to Vibrancy | February 15 from 12 - 2 p.m.
Be part of the solution by providing your thoughts, insight and feedback on the plan relative to this issue in a two-hour session. In-person or virtual TBA
Register for this session here.
CEDS- Housing - If we don’t build it, they can’t come! | February 15 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Finding solutions to workforce housing shortages to bring new families to our community and provide options workers for our growing businesses. Hear the plan and share your feedback in a two-hour interactive session. In-person or virtual TBA.
Register for this session here.
CEDS- Workforce Retention and Attraction | February 16 from 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Canada’s population is changing. Businesses are struggling to find staff. How welcoming are we to new people and new ideas? Let’s find out in a discussion about what could be done to help us attract and retain the population that will keep our community vibrant. This two-hour interactive session is designed for community members with ideas to share. In-person or virtual TBA.
Register for this session here.
CEDS- Health & Wellness Opportunities | March 15, 3 – 5 p.m. location TBA
Health and wellness business opportunities are growing for those communities that have it at the forefront of their thinking. Hear the options to support growth in this sector of businesses and provide your feedback in a two hour interactive session on how we can maximize the opportunity.
Register for this session here
The CEDS Executive Summary has been accepted as information by Council and is available for review on the Town website here.
Stay up to date with the process and be included in the CEDS Community Engagement contact list by signing up here: https://conta.cc/2BgfOaX
______________________________________________________________________
For more information or for comments:
Mayor Don Anderberg, danderberg@pinchercreek.ca
Marie Everts, Marketing, Events & Economic Development Officer
403 627 3156 or economic@pinchercreek.ca
View the history of this project here.
