Stephenville -
The Long Range Regional Economic Development Board has been very engaged with the community during this past year.
That's according to John MacPherson, executive director for the board, in a report on activities for the year delivered at the board's annual general meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion in Stephenville Tuesday.
He credited the committee structure put in place three years ago as the reason it's so involved with the community.
"We've had eight board meeting from September 2008 to August 2009, along with 35 sub-committee meetings and that is precisely why we are able to reach out into the community," MacPherson said.
He detailed some of the work done in a number of sectors, including natural resources, tourism, agriculture and fisheries and aquaculture.
A highlight, he said, was bringing together trail groups to develop a plan for a trail system for the area. The Walk-A-Ways Committee is guided by a group of people interested in health, wellness and community development, who envisioned a trail system that links the communities of Kippens, Stephenville, Stephenville Crossing, Noel's Pond and Long Gull Pond.
MacPherson commended the committee for the job it has done.
During the meeting a pictorial tour of the Stephenville trail system was shown and Debra Coughlin of the Walk-A-Ways Committee explained this is just the first step of the trails in the area.
In the way of business development and support, MacPherson said the board met with the business community to give business leaders updates and share best practices.
Construction of infrastructure for the implementation of a three-phase power system for Bay St. George South is ready to start and the regional economic development board put a lot of work into discussions with all players in this project.
MacPherson said this project consumed a lot of time during the past year, but he said it was worthwhile since the long-term economic benefit will be felt for generations.
The board also supported an Idea Generation project and there are three active businesses started because of it. It plans to present the ideas generated once again in the coming year to see if anyone is interested in starting businesses identified.
He said the board worked with many community groups, including aboriginal and Francophone people, municipalities and its key partners, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development extensively during the year.
It's planning to work closer with Human Resources, Labour and Employment as that department has now taken over a lot of services formerly provided by Service Canada under the Labour Market Development Agreement.
The full year-end final report is available on the board's website in the reports section.
