Norton now in charge of Economic Development

Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire has announced that responsibility for the municipality’s Economic Development Services Division has been transferred to General Manager John Norton, effective immediately.

Shropshire said the move will enhance the Municipality’s efforts to build a business friendly environment that promotes investments while respecting our regulatory requirements.

“John has been General Manager of the Community Development Department since last December and adding economic development to his responsibilities is a good fit from a strategic perspective,” he said in a media release.

The Community Development Department currently includes five divisions, being Planning Services, Building Development Services, Municipal Governance (Clerk’s Office), Fire & Emergency Services, and Legal Services.

Norton said his department would aim for a balance of regulatory functions and business friendly practices.

The goal, he said, is to assist business owners and create an environment that makes it possible for businesses to flourish.

Norton added that in this competitive global market the community must be business friendly.

“We now have a department where we can deal with attracting investment and ensuring the necessary process for that investment can be handled in one area,” he said in a press release.

“The synergies involved make this a very good move, one I’m looking forward to being part of.”

One of the first moves undertaken is that an employee has been assigned to review municipal processes with a goal of reducing “red tape” across divisions and departments.

Norton began his career with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 2011 as the Director of Legal Services.

- Advertisment -