Wheatland County eyes economic development opportunities

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

Economic development generates jobs, so Wheatland County councillors were happy to hear the results of the economic development draft report, which gives council and staff direction for improvement, and informs residents on what is being anticipated for an action plan in 2019.
McSweeny and Associates were awarded the contract to develop a draft document for economic development. Consultants Shauna and Art Lawson went over the plan with county council on Dec. 4.
“It is all about building a strong foundation, and having some way council can use its resources strategically,” said Shauna Lawson.
The report stated that the county offers an ideal blend of rural and urban lifestyles enjoyed by generations of families who live and work there. They considered that Wheatland County is close to Calgary which is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. While the Town of Strathmore has retail and service offerings, the consultants felt Wheatland could improve on industrial development offerings due to its proximity to Calgary.
As a baseline, consultants gave a quick snapshot of the county demographics.
“One of the things that stands out is your population has continued to grow over the last three census periods,” said Art Lawson.
The consultants reported the county has a large working-age population of educated residents – 56 per cent post-secondary training – who are living stable lifestyles, with the majority of residents living here for five years or more. Average incomes are approximately $32,000 to $49,000 a year, a bit lower than other areas in the province. About six per cent of the population is unemployed which is lower than the nine per cent provincial average. The top industries are agriculture, forestry-fishing-hunting, construction, retail trade, manufacturing, healthcare and social welfare. The top occupations in the county are management, trades and transport-equipment operators, sales and service workers, business and financial administration, and natural resources and agricultural workers.
Shauna Lawson said that as well as collecting data and holding a working session, they interviewed businesses and residents in the county.
The report outlines some of the county’s strengths and weaknesses, and came up with challenges the county faces to improve economic development. Art Lawson stated there were a lot of positives Wheatland County could build on.
He said the county is a bit more recession resistant than the rest of the economy, due to the agricultural base within the county. He was surprised that the creative and cultural businesses were a strong sector in the county. He said there is good worker retention, a great location and a good community attitude and rural lifestyle support. He praised the county’s environmental efforts and initiatives. He cited the affordability of property was an asset.
They listed the challenges as: a lack of upgraded and new infrastructure to support growth; lack of proactive asset management and maintenance; lack of viable locations for investors (serviced land/buildings); too much red tape in permitting processes making them difficult and a lack of consistency (depends who you know); the county is perceived to be unfriendly towards new development/new businesses; the community doesn’t feel they are involved in decision-making with adequate representation on municipal planning and agricultural services boards; dealing with subdivision encroachment onto agricultural lands that reduces farm viability and increases potential conflict; downtowns and main streets require investment; a lack of desirable housing stock within settlement areas (hamlets, villages) that would attract families; an image of a place to go through to get to somewhere else; and, improvement in broadband/internet capacity. There were concerns around petty crime, such as theft, vandalism and drug trade, and competition from Calgary with difficulty to find qualified workers locally and a struggle to attract new residents/workforce.
With the shift in Alberta’s economy, the consultants considered community development, investment readiness, industrial development and tourism as important targets.
The report stated that investors want to invest in a strong, well-organized municipality that meets their needs. It states the key is to retain businesses and attract new ones. Lawson encouraged the county to undertake actions to be investment-ready and business-friendly.
He said if industrial and commercial land is competitively priced and available, with adequate servicing, as Wheatland County is close to transportation corridors, the county should be investment ready. By comparing the county to other areas and reviewing and adapting the policies so they are user friendly, adding things like a good broadband and internet service, and promotion through an economic development website, the county has a great market for a good business draw. A communications plan and signage was a good investment for area promotion.
There was a recommendation to do a business directory, to clearly identify any areas that needed more development. It will also help new businesses to identify if there are suppliers that support their businesses and target demand for goods in this area. By developing an engagement plan with local businesses, the county can improve factors that will attract new business. They felt agricultural-based businesses could be developed, encouraging diversification and developing value-added markets. They suggested working partnerships with Hutterite colonies and Siksika Nation, and making sure resources, infrastructure and servicing are in place for the development of new business, along with planning for training and employment of local residents. They suggested contacting local universities and colleges to work in partnerships to develop employment and training opportunity partnerships.
Under tourism, there was a suggestion of coordinated marketing of the county’s many events, and developing partnerships with Rosebud School of the Arts, Canadian Badlands, Alberta tourism and Community Futures Wildrose. Some suggestions were to expand on Open Farm Days, develop sports tourism, develop new tourism activities and analyze opportunities for the Eagle Lake area.
Their conclusion was that the county focus on pre-emptive infrastructure maintenance and upgrading throughout hamlets and villages, managing growth, protecting farmland and supporting small communities to prevent them from abandonment and infrastructure collapse. They said it is essential to do a broadband and internet plan.
Art Lawson encouraged the county to find ways to keep young people and young families living in the area, and provide quality of life opportunities in future growth. An improvement in the relationships with local businesses and community residents was considered a good tactic for future growth on many levels.
They suggested a dedicated employee to coordinate and develop the 28 economic initiatives listed in the report. Shauna Lawson said having a pre-emptive plan allows the county to gain control over the direction of growth, rather than letting developers and businesses direct an uncoordinated expansion.