The mayors of Prescott and Russell are impressed with results so far of a five-year economic action plan for the region.
“I am so proud of our region,” said Casselman Mayor Geneviève Lajoie, following a presentation during the September 25 session of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell council (UCPR).
John Candie, executive director for the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation (PRCDC), and Nicholas Malboeuf, the agency’s regional director of economic development and tourism, presented the mayors with the first quarterly report on the progress of a five-year economic development action plan partnership for the region between the PRCDC and the UCPR. The 18-page summary report highlighted progress over the past three months with five key projects aimed at boosting Prescott and Russell’s economic development profile, encouraging investment in the region, and helping support local business and employment efforts.
The five-year partnership between the UCPR and the PRCDC on an economic development action plan for the region was confirmed in May this year.
Malboeuf also presented a 20-page detailed report on a new tourism development plan for the region, including a video highlighting various cultural, heritage, and community features and attractions in all eight municipalities in Prescott-Russell.
The first project underway as part of the five-year strategic development plan is creating a “concierge service” for the region to help promote commercial and industrial land available for development in Prescott and Russell and also support present and future business development. Work to date on this project includes a funding support application to Federal Development Ontario to assist with the strategic plan for an Agri-Food Innovation and Transformation Centre in Casselman. This project is inspired and influenced by similar centres in Louiseville, Ottawa, and Smith Falls. The PRCDC is also working on another application for senior government funding support.
The PRCDC is working with the Hawkesbury Industrial Investment Association on a survey of available land for commercial and industrial development and an inventory of existing industrial-class buildings that could be available for use.
The second key project is creation of a central business resource service to help existing, new and potential businesses with service needs. The work on this project includes mapping out available industrial and commercial land available in the region and creating a list of existing businesses and services for reference.
The third project focuses on promotion of existing employment services programs to help businessowners find skilled staff for their operations. The PRCDC is researching available senior government financial aid programs to help set up this project. The fourth project is related to this through work between the PRCDC and post-secondary institutions on creating post-secondary business and job training programs that help meet the needs of businesses in the region.
The fifth project is development of a new regional tourism promotion and marketing plan for Prescott-Russell. Malboeuf’s report and video highlighted all eight municipalities and their current cultural, heritage, and recreational tourism attractions
and events. The PRCDC is also working on meetings with provincial officials on available programs to either support increased marketing of Prescott-Russell as a tourism destination or help with development of existing and new tourism features.
The PRCDC has also been working with Russell Township and federal and provincial government departments on financial support for the Nubuild Super Factory project in the Village of Vars, adjacent to the township. The project represents a potential employment boom for the area with more than 600 jobs through the facility itself along with spin-off employment through local support service and supply outfits.
