After Budget 2015 was presented he would not discuss details after he revealed there is something even more significant unfolding than the two new car dealerships granted approvals to be built in the Confederation Drive area.
Pender and other members of council said they do not know which dealerships the business is bringing to Corner Brook. There is speculation it is some combination of a pairing of Volkswagen, Subaru or Nissan.
When discussing the project after the public meeting, Pender said there is something bigger coming. When questioned, he would only say he thinks people will be surprised.
During the budget speech, Deputy Mayor Bern Staeben said there was a number of new businesses and developments in 2014, and said it was just the beginning. Despite eliminating its business resource centre, he said the city will engage the business community in restructuring its economic development capacity. The city values its local businesses and developers, he said, but is encouraged by the large corporations and major developers from outside the region who have shown interest.
The deputy mayor reiterated the current council’s stance that the city is “open for business.”
Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade president Chris Noseworthy acknowledges there has been a number of new business starts in the city, but he said an “open for business” mantra is determined by continued growth and not a declaration. He hopes there is more to come.
The board of trade will actively partner with the city as it restructures its economic development capacity, said Noseworthy, but said it is a collaborative effort of all business-related entities. He said he hopes lessons of the past have been learned as the city moves ahead with this new focus.
The president was happy to see there was no increase in the city’s mill rate, and feels the $75 flat rate increase for water and sewer was reasonable.
“As a business community and as residents, we understand that the provision of better service means an increased cost,” he said.
