Mayor Answers Questions About The Ups And Downs Of Local Economic Development
It has not been the easiest to attract new businesses while have existing businesses expand but Mayor Fraser Tolmie said the City has been able to make the grade in what many have described as tougher times.
During the post Council media scrum MJ Independent asked a series of questions to Mayor Tolmie about the ups and downs of local economic development during his tenure as Mayor because May 9 - 15 has been declared Economic Development Week.
Additionally the City is also celebrated Indigenous Economic Development Day on May 10th.
As part of the week the City encourages residents to shop local to help out local businesses by keeping more dollars in the local economy.
“We had to turn this City around. I think prior to 2016 we did not have a strong business plan,” the Mayor said. The turnaround has lead to a massive economic influx to Moose Jaw, he said.
The Mayor said the new strategy has helped attract investment into the City as well as the City doing what it can to help the businesses which are presently here to grow and expand as well as survive the economic hit that COVID - 19 has delivered.
Asked about the two periods of economic development - pre-COVID 19 and COVID - 19 - and how the emphasis had shifted Mayor Tolmie said there had been a shift from looking for new businesses to set up shop in the community as well as assisting existing businesses to one more focused on businesses already in the community.
“Our economic development (platform) was (before COVID - 19) to bring in new businesses to expand the tax base and bring in jobs and to help local businesses expand,” he said, adding that after COVID - 19 hit the community the emphasis moved to helping existing businesses survive.
“We have done everything in the last year with our businesses in our community to help,” Mayor Tolmie said adding it has been a collective effort to help them survive the COVID - 19 economic downturn many have suffered.
Mayor Tolmie said he would not answer questions that just over a year ago predicted 30 to 50 percent of local businesses could close due to the effects of the COVID - 19 pandemic as he had not made such predictions.
When asked again and reminded the naysayers had said it and their dire predictions did not turn out Mayor Tolmie replied “we always prove the naysayers wrong.”
The Mayor said the City had reached out to many businesses in the community but admitted “we are not in touch with every single business in the community.”
Economic Development Officer Jim Dixon (left) looks on as Mayor Fraser Tolmie signs the declaration - City of Moose Jaw photo
Asked about the loss of proposed developments such as Carpere’s initial desire to purchase and market the former South East Industrial Park (SEIP) as an agri-food and technology sector Mayor Tolmie said despite the disappointment the City still keeps moving forward.
“That (attract businesses to the now renamed Agri-Food Park) is a long term strategy. We are disappointed with what came through (when the Carpere deal collapsed),” Mayor Tolmie said, adding the long term strategy was to continue to aggressively seek out tenants for the industrial park.
“I am very excited and there is lots on the horizon and we are always out shaking the bushes,” he said. “We have attracted over a billion dollars worth of investment.”
“What I look to is the next opportunity. What else can we attract,” he said.
Mayor Tolmie made mention of some of the larger businesses and industries like agriculture who are operating in or near the city. He typified the Moose Jaw economy as diverse and because of that full of potential.
“We have the military base, the CPR, the refinery, we have the potash mines. These are great businesses that are the pillars in our city,” he said.
Carpere in the industrial park may have been a failure in the end but he pointed out there had been success with SaskPower developing a natural gas fired electrical generating plant. The plant is a magnet to attract other investment.
“That attracts business and brings power and natural gas to the (industrial park).”
The servicing work going on at the industrial park is a major win for the City’s economic development goals as serviced industrial land makes it easier to attract potential new businesses.
“They are looking for simplicity when they are looking to invest millions into the city,” Mayor Tolmie said.
The City of Moose Jaw encourages residents to support economic development in Moose Jaw by supporting local businesses, either in person or online with the virtual Moose Jaw Marketplace – www.MooseJawMarketplace.ca .
The City of Moose Jaw is proud of several economic developments and initiatives in the past year providing economic growth and employment opportunities:
- Servicing of the new Canadian Tire development on Thatcher Drive East.
- Servicing of the new SK Power Great Plains Power Station in the Agri-Food Industrial Park.
- Announcement of new joint-use school.
- City and Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce partnering on Virtual Moose Jaw Marketplace.
- City working with the Chamber to assist local businesses impacted by COVID-19.
- City working with Downtown Business Association to enhance aesthetics and infrastructure for an enhanced Downtown experience for residents and visitors.