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EDA remains optimistic
Amanda Stephenson However, Grover says it’s important to remember that complete an industrial land and building inventory so that
astephenson@medicinehatnews.com an economy like Medicine Hat’s — which has such close if a company contacts a small community with interest
ties to the price of natural resources like oil and gas — is in setting up there, the community can immediately tell
There may be a lot of doom and gloom about the
always going to be cyclical in nature. Businesses that them what they can offer.
economy right now, but the new executive director of the
understand that and are willing to work with it can use a
“As it is right now, for a small community to respond
Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta
slowdown to explore new opportunities or take advantage
quickly, it’s very difficult,” Grover says.
(EDA) refuses to view the future of this area in a negative
of declining costs by expanding.
In 2009, the EDA will also continue to lobby for the
context. In order to help the local economy find those
expansion of the Wild Horse border crossing to a 24-
“I see lots of reasons to be optimistic,” says Caroline
opportunities, Grover says the EDA has identified three
hour crossing — hopefully bringing more cross-border
Grover, who started her position with the EDA in January,
main priorities for 2009. The first, industry attraction,
traffic to southeast Alberta.
replacing the outgoing Harold Wilson. “I think so often
involves continuing to explore promising areas such as
the stories of layoffs get announced, but the stories of
unmanned vehicle systems, value-added agriculture, and
Grover says when worrying about a recession, it’s
employment retention don’t.”
energy (wind farms, bioenergy, etc.)
important to remember that the Medicine Hat area’s
economy is more diversified than many people realize,
That’s not to say Grover doesn’t foresee challenges in the
The second priority, Grover says, is business retention and
with a burgeoning research and development sector,
year ahead. Many local companies have concerns about
expansion. The EDA wants to conduct site visits to local
a strong agricultural industry, and a post-secondary
investing, expanding, or even replacing inventory in this
businesses and industries to find out what challenges
institution that draws people and jobs to the area.
uncertain time, and as people tighten their belts and
they are facing and what can be done to help them reach
spend less, there’s no way the local economy won’t feel
their business goals.
“We’ve also had good investment from the federal and
provincial government in this area, and that’s something
the pinch. The third priority is investment preparedness. The EDA
to consider,” she says. “When governments are investing
“Particularly companies that have been exporting to the
wants to meet with the different communities it represents
heavily in an area like ours, they’re recognizing we’re
U.S. have been very profoundly impacted,” Grover says.
and help get them the information they need to attract
doing some good things here.”
investment. Among other things, the EDA wants to
403 504-1322
confidential document destruction and recycling
40260593•03/24/09
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