ANGUS HENDERSON
Medicine Hat News
By putting their collective heads together, both the City of Brooks and Medicine Hat-based Community Futures Entre-Corp have found a creative way to enhance the level of business services in Brooks.
Both teamed up last week to sign an agreement that will see a part-time economic development officer for Brooks and a part-time business development officer for Entre-Corp in Brooks.
Stepping into both part-time roles is Brooks municipal intern Dan Quinn, who has worked for the city for a year.
At city council's direction, Quinn will put together the city's first strategic economic development plan to attract and retain business and workers in the region.
Brooks Mayor Don Weisbeck calls it a win-win for both entities.
He said his council had looked at acquiring an economic development officer for a number of years, but found the cost prohibitive.
"Then Les Erickson from Entre-Corp approached me about a year ago and talked about sharing a position so they could have a presence in Brooks and also help us out at the same time," explained Weisbeck.
"So we jumped at the idea because it's obviously a way we can fund the position at basically half the cost. It's a way of easing into it and I suspect that over time we'll probably need a full-time economic development officer and maybe Entre-Corp will also need a full-time position."
Weisbeck stated that Quinn - as economic development officer - will help promote the city, represent it at various trade shows; and work with organizations such as the Palliser Economic Partnership and the Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta.
On the Entre-Corp side, he'll assist businesses to start-up, develop business plans, and develop marketing plans.
"He'll also be looking at opportunities for Brooks to develop value-added businesses in the agriculture sector - which is huge in the Brooks area," said Weisbeck.
"There are huge spin-off opportunities in the oil and gas sector as well and Dan will hopefully focus on both sectors to help develop opportunities for future economic expansion."
Weisbeck added that with Brooks being primarily reliant on its agriculture sector and the oil and gas sector, he's hopeful the new position will help to diversify the local economy in the event of any economic slow downs.