Too much energy has been focused on tourism and as a result we’ve missed out on industrial growth, council candidate Matt Prete said when answering a question on how he’d foster business development and attract new business to all areas of town, not just downtown.
“We’ve missed the boat,” he said, pointing to Ponoka with half the population but about three times the industrial base.
“We’ve got to bring some industrial (development) in. Downtown needs to have an anchor development there. The days of making it on two months of the year are gone. As soon as you have an anchor, other businesses will set up. We have to have year round traffic.”
Three councillors were asked to answer each of the questions posed during last Friday’s Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce sponsored forum.
Megan Chernoff said of increasing development, it’s “so important, it brings jobs into the community.
“Making the process easier and more welcoming,” is her goal.
Graham Parsons referred to the town’s economic development strategy and the fact the town is in the process of annexing land for industrial growth in the east. He also stated council needs to look at developmental restrictions.