Fort Macleod Economic Development Commission has provided direction for town council to spark growth.
The EDC’s recommendations include completing the Town of Fort Macleod Web site, on which a community profile should be posted.
“EDC members volunteer our time to help council make decisions by shedding light on changes we feel would be beneficial to the community,” the EDC wrote.
The EDC also urged council to create a protocol and policy describing how inquiries about development in Fort Macleod are to be handled.
The EDC also recommended creating a land inventory catalogue and undertaking an annual investment readiness test.
Council reviewed a written report from EDC chairman Klaas Brobbel and other commission members.
Council was told Brobbel and economic development manager Virginia Wishart recently took part in a regional training program offered through Community Futures Alberta Southwest.
The training, titled “Bringing Investment Home,” helped to identify areas Fort Macleod should improve to attract investors.
The EDC report told council Fort Macleod’s ability to attract investors is diminished by the lack of information on the Town of Fort Macleod Web site, which should be the first point of contact for investors and other people.
The Web site should feature a community profile that is regularly updated to keep information fresh.
The EDC told council the protocol for fielding development inquiries should include logging calls, reporting to town departments, confidentiality, follow-up and other procedures.
The EDC also urged the town to take the following steps:
- Complete a strategic plan as soon as possible.
- Develop an investment-focused marketing strategy around the strategic plan.
- Create a new process that gets feedback from people who go through the town’s development application process.
- Develop a performance review for the chief administrative officer.
The EDC asked for a formal response to the recommendations from council by Aug. 30.
“We would like to know what council anticipates implementing in the coming year, and how we can further assist in the future,” the EDC wrote.
EDC members are Brobbel, vice-chairman Jacob Holwerda, Gerry Eversole, Eileen Moses, Ted Buzunis and Rick Randle.
Brent Feyter and Mike Collar represent council on the EDC and Tony Walker represents Community Futures Alberta Southwest.
Council has accepted the recommendations but not the results of an EDC survey.
Council was concerned percentages of responses to the survey questions did not total 100 per cent.