“We need the foresight to make decisions that will support our community 20 years from now,” says Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope.
The Mayor was speaking Tuesday morning in Chatham at the Annual Municipal Update hosted by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by OLG in cooperation with TV COGECO. The event was held at the Retro Suites Hotel.
Mayor Hope noted that at the beginning of the current Council’s term, consultation with 14 Chatham-Kent communities and 24 community groups reconfirmed the previous Council’s strategic investments in jobs, people and health.
Hope says that is the kind of continuity in leadership that is essential for making the most of long-term plans to create the following:
– A community where everyone who wants to work is able to work in meaningful employment;
– A welcoming community where people choose to live, learn, work and play; and
– A healthy, active, safe, accessible community within a healthy natural environment and a healthy built environment.
Hope says individual long-term plans are helpful, “but that’s not enough, not if our community is to plan effective projects, programs and public services 20 years into the future. This is why, in September, Council endorsed the basic principles of Chatham-Kent Plan 2035. Consultations with community stakeholders and a detailed plan will soon be proposed to Council.”
Mayor Hope says CK Plan 2035 will be an overarching strategy:
– It will consolidate all Chatham-Kent’s key studies, strategies, action plans, and planning processes;
– CK Plan 2035 will support Chatham-Kent’s long-term prosperity, quality of life, and opportunities for residents;
– It will guide administrative planning;
– It will identify issues, targets, strategies, gaps, tactics and measurements; and
– It will support strategic investments – a major function of CK Plan 2035, and why, in October, Council approved the launch of the Long-Term Strategic Financial Plan.
In economic development, the Municipality’s Economic Development Services also stress continuity, including:
– A heavy focus on business retention and expansion;
– Continued support for new small business start-up and job creation through the Small Business Centre; and
– An aggressive pursuit of foreign direct investment to create new jobs.
Mayor Hope says Chatham-Kent’s relationship with the green energy sector is a good example of what the community, the local public sector, and businesses can achieve by staying true to a community strategy over the long term.
In 2005, a municipal Green Energy Committee explored and recommended the development of green, efficient and sustainable energy solutions such as wind and solar power.
“We negotiated willing host agreements and stuck to our overall economic development strategy. As a result, we have had $1.5 billion in green energy investment in Chatham-Kent since 2008.”
Speaking to a business audience, Mayor Hope thanked local companies for their investment in Chatham-Kent. “On behalf of Chatham-Kent Council, I want to recognize and thank the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, business people, companies small and large, business associations and other chambers, for all you do to sustain and enrich our community. Thank you for your innovation, for boosting our economy, and for promoting CK both here and around the world.”
Working Together for Chatham-Kent
– In 2015, the Municipality’s Business Retention and Expansion team conducted 206 corporate visits to introduce area companies to various government funding opportunities. This resulted in 47 approved funding applications with a total investment value of approximately $51 million. In addition to the countless jobs retained by this investment, an additional 243 new jobs were created. The team also partnered with many other industry groups to host 21 industry events which were attended by more than 850 people. In 2015, 18 area agri-businesses attended trade shows in four countries and represented the Chatham-Kent brand.
– In 2015, the Chatham-Kent Small Business Centre received over 700 inquiries and conducted 286 consultations with new and existing small businesses. This resulted in 81 new business start-ups and created 110 jobs.
– Last year, the Municipality’s Investment Attraction team facilitated 33 meetings with various investors from Canada and around the world. This included site visits, introductions from business to business, and introductions to community partners from infrastructure, energy and education sectors. In 2015, 14 international delegations visited Chatham-Kent. They included a group from China, working on a recycling operation, who toured local facilities.
– In 2015, our tourism community worked with the Municipality to create a Tourism Destination Management Plan. The plan engages a wide range of operators across Chatham-Kent who have validated the future direction of tourism in CK.
