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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-08-24, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 24, 2016 MacLellan focuses on economic development, sharing services during conference Justin Prince Special to the Expositor Going into this year's Associations of Municipali- ties Ontario Conference, Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan had his mind set on two key areas - rural eco- nomic development and sharing services with other communities. "Those are the two biggest things at the forefront at the moment," said MacLellan. He explained the latter of the two issues are currently being discussed by munici- pal council to reduce costs. Hundreds of mayors from across the province, includ- ing MacLellan, went to the City of Windsor last week to take part in the 2016 AMO Conference. The conference gives municipalities a chance to network with other communities as well as to learn about various municipal issues and policies. One of the largest discus- sions this year was coinci- dentally about rural eco- nomic development. The panel event focused partially on showing what small com- munities have done to drive economic development. In Ingersoll for example, since the Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre - which allows children and teenagers to learn about technology and other inter- ests - was opened in the area in 2005, the town's youth crime rate dropped 80 to 90 per cent, according to facility manager Andrea Brown. MacLellan said he was inter- ested in looking into trying to adapt ideas such as the FYATC for a rural commu- nity like Seaforth. "I think any time you come to a conference like this and you re -meet munic- ipal personnel from different areas, the opportunity is there to discuss what's going on in the communities," said MacLellan. "If they got a suc- cess story, then we're always interested in finding out more about it and seeing if it's something that we can replicate for ourselves back in our own communities" Katie Nolan, Agriculture and Rural Economic Devel- opment Advisor for the Min- istry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, pointed out to the attendees during the event that it's important to teach residents the impor- tance of helping grow their community and to get them involved. She also explained "there's no set formula" for how to create economic development. "You (the communities) will get better results if you start with what you have rather than trying to brand your community into some- thing you can't deliver or turn your community into some- thing else," said Nolan during her presentation to the crowd. The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth also made an announce- ment that would help with MacLellan's goals. The provincial government made multiple changes to its Investment Ready: Certified Site Program in an attempt to make it easier for communi- ties and businesses to take part. These changes included expanding the eligibility of the program to include smaller lots within business and industrial parks. The IRCSP had previously considered only large non-contiguous industrial lands 10 acres or larger. The certification pro- gram helps attract investors for approved vacant proper- ties across Ontario. Currently, there are 16 designated sites in the province - none of those properties are in Huron County. It will also expand the range of eligible expenses covered by the province from $25,000 to $50,000 as well as to include the full certification process. As well, double the length of the designation from two years to four. It will also add a new pre -application consulta- tion process to allow commu- nities to find out what they would need to do to ensure their land would be certified. "We will accept any site that can get ready and get certified from anywhere in the province," said Ontario Minister of Economic Devel- opment and Growth Brad Duguid during a press con- ference at the AMO. "I'm confident you'll see sites ultimately in every part of the province that are certi- fied because it's in the inter- ests of those municipalities and communities to ensure that's possible." Huron East municipal council will be returning to session on Sept. 6. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne (left) speaks to the media during a press conference with Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro at the Associations of Municipalities Ontario Conference at Caesars Windsor August 15. ISR OFFICEIS CLODour deadline ilillll� Main St.. Seaforth AY ue �e e`charerun ��,�mewssvrsmsa s &CpIC116B11�' MIB WII hB�mIMron Iter SE1EMBEH www .seaforthhuronexposito'�?c` degans@postmedia.com If you have any questions of concerns, please give ,us a call at 5119-52+7-0240., Outgoing Associations of Municipalities Ontario president and Town of Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara speaks during a AMO Conference session at Caesars Windsor August 15. Justin Prince Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth Brad Duguid speaks to the media during a press conference about the Investment Ready: Certified Site Program at the Associations of Municipalities Ontario Conference in Windsor last week.