2024 brings a renewed focus on strategic planning for the Crocus Country Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC).
"In January we'll be releasing our strat plan that will give us a little bit more fine-tuned direction coming into 2024," says Regional EDO, Eric Forster. "Definitely we'll have a few projects that we'll be bringing over with us from 2023, and one of them being work-force development."
"Working with businesses to solve some of the employee scares that exist within the region," he explains. "Whether it's through immigration. Whether it's through promotion or some type of attraction package. Just making sure that all of our business owners are as fully staffed as they wish to be."
The second item on the list of issues that needs addressing in the new year is housing.
"This is a big issue across Canada, across Manitoba, and even in our region," says Forster. "I belong to the Southwest Regional Round Table that's made up of EDO's throughout the region, and this is something that we've identified in our region which isn't a crisis but is definitely a slowdown to our process of attracting residents to our area, especially for rentals."
Forster says the area is in desperate need for rental housing and is looking for numerous ways to solve this problem.
"Whether it's through housing co-ops, whether it's through working with Manitoba Housing, whether it's getting a bunch of local investors together and building properties, or just working with local homeowners who may be looking at relocating and see renting as an opportunity."
The CCEDC covers a large area of the most southwestern corner of the province, starting from the Saskatchewan/Manitoban border, with the US/Canada border to the south, and extending eastward 60 km. It includes the Major Highways of PTH 3 and 83 and sits roughly 300 kilometers southwest of Winnipeg.
"Being in this corner of the province you might feel like you're in the middle of nowhere but within 3 1/2 to 5 hours you could be anywhere in the world," shares Forster. "And I say that because within 3 1/2 hours I could be the Winnipeg International Airport. Within 3 1/2 hours I'm at the Regina International Airport. Within 3 hours I'm at the Minot, North Dakota, International Airport. And from those 3 places I can travel to just about anywhere in the world!"
"When I look at it from that perspective, I feel like we're almost in the middle of everywhere!"
As one gentleman put it to Forster, 'You're close enough to get it if you need it, but you're far enough away to think twice about it!'
"So, workforce development and housing, these are definitely some of the things that we will be carrying over to 2024 and I imagine there will be some other big things popping up in 2024, just we had in 2023," he adds.
Favorite events coming up will be the Southwest Business & Entrepreneur Expo taking place in Deloraine on February 7th. Later in the year will be the return of their Job & Career Fair that takes place in Melita in December, 2024 being its second year.
Please listen to Eric Forster as he shares more on their strategy plan and upcoming AGM!
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