Economic Task Force receives one-year extension

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has recognized the positive progress of the Wallaceburg Community Task Force to seek opportunity to revitalize the economically challenged community. Chatham-Kent Council and the Province of Ontario have provided a one-year extension to the pilot project to continue its work on critical economic development projects.

“We’re very thankful for the guidance we’ve received,” says Chair, Bill Currier. “We believe we’re bringing good value for the dollars being invested by helping create solutions that will benefit the entire municipality.”

The extension to March 2010 will enable the task force to address key projects including a workforce development strategy, the Wallaceburg Community Vision 2020 strategy, multimodal port feasibility study and Brownfield redevelopment/revitalization. These projects have begun but more work is required to put actions in place.

“We want to focus on implementation over this next year. Through this process I believe we’re in a better position because we now understand ourselves well. We can use this information to prepare for the new economy,” says Currier.

The task force completed a community SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis and a Community Strategic Plan (Vision 2020) which is now being utilized as a roadmap to revitalization.

For more information, please contact Economic Development Services at 519.351.7700/1.866.542.5994 or at ckeds@chatham-kent.ca