The Mayor of Williams Lake says he’s happy to welcome Susan Fournier from Ontario as the new Economic Development Officer.
Walt Cobb says he’s glad the Central Cariboo Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) which the City reinstated last year, finally got someone in place.
“I met her and a very dynamic lady. I think we’ve got some good things happening and now the group can start getting some of the projects…I know they’ve been working on 3 or 4 projects just as volunteers and now they’ve got a paid staff they can get some of the leg work and get these projects on the go.”
Also expressing happiness is the CCEDC’s Board Chair Larry Stranberg who says they are now working a greenhouse project with the Ministry of Agriculture.
“With the hot water steam that Atlantic Power Company releases every day into the air, and so we signed an MOU with Atlantic to have access to that steam, so now we’re going to be working on a plan on how we can attract business to use it and create greenhouses, and to create jobs.”
Stranberg says they are also working with the University of Northern BC on a business plan for the Williams Lake area.
Susan Fournier, started her job as the CCEDC’s Economic Development Officer Monday, March 7 after making the drive out from Smith Falls, Ontario where she previously served as the Executive Director of the Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation in Lanark County.
“Getting to know the community, getting to know the know the key industries that are already here, seeing whether there’s growth opportunities with some or different types of growth or related industries,” Fourier says is her first mandate.
“It’s a strong economy here,” she continues. “You know a lot of communities see their own weaknesses and they don’t always necessarily see their strengths as much.”
Fournier says although some of the traditional industries in the community have had challenges, they are still vibrant good employers and that there is a lot to work with and opportunity.
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