Partnering enhances business opportunities

08/29/07
BY MARK WEBER
Red Deer Express

Organizations joining forces across the community is the best way to do business and spur the local manufacturing sector, says a partner with Red Deer Regional Economic Development.

“Essentially, it’s about making business easier to do in our area,” said Tyler Westover, economic development specialist with the organization.

Westover said the partnership, which includes the City of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and Red Deer College is a vital part of keeping up with the brisk provincial economy, and the ongoing labour crunch.

It’s critical to join forces in such heady times, with the latest statistics showing over the past five years, the Red Deer region saw an 86% jump in sales, a 48% growth in payroll and a 44% increase in the number of manufacturing jobs.

Last year, local manufacturing sales shot up by 17%.

“The information exchange is amazing,” he said of the top benefit of the collaboration. The relatively recent addition of RDC has only taken that further. “The information provided by the college is phenomenal.”

Red Deer is the only region on the prairies with access to more than two million people within a 90-minute drive.

Businesses within the region also share in the benefits of operating in Alberta—a province that has distinct advantages over its counterparts in other areas of the country and the continent. According to Red Deer Regional Economic Development, the Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton Corridor is recognized around the world as a major economic force, producing a per capita GDP second only to Luxembourg.

TD Economics estimated the per capita GDP at $40,000 (US)—well ahead of the U.S., Norway, Switzerland and Ireland.

This is almost $15,000 higher than Canada’s national average. 

For the groups belonging to Red Deer Regional Economic Development there are tools to help fine-tune their operations, including information exchange and a myriad of training opportunities available via the organizations particularly with the addition of RDC.

Jim Madder, executive vice president of academics at RDC, said workforce development and the provision of sources for upgrading skills are just two ways RDC can contribute to Red Deer Regional Economic Development.

Training students in manufacturing processes, as well as helping local businesses in analyzing their own operations for greater efficiency are also receiving more emphasis at RDC.

Madder said ultimately, RDC has the same goals as the County and the City of Red Deer – growing products and markets, innovative opportunities as well as keeping trained workers in Central Alberta.

For staff at the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, the partnership is certainly a win-win.

“In the two areas of investment attraction and retention, the group allows us to use more resources than we could as the Chamber alone to meet with people and present opportunities to potential investors,” said Cal Dallas, the Chamber’s executive director.

“It also allows us resources to better understand the challenges and barriers that businesses face in growing their businesses in the region.

“With respect to the business pain around attracting and retaining trained personnel, as a group we can deliver results for business in both ‘out of province’ employee attraction and in training for productivity gains to optimize the labour pool we do have.”

Red Deer County officials say belonging to the group opens up opportunities for growth that otherwise may not materialize.

Deb Bonnett, economic development manager with Red Deer County said the group has funded several studies regarding Regional Airport Red Deer and its economic impact on the area.

Heading to this fall’s job fair in Ontario is another example where banding together works for all concerned. The Toronto event may be impractical for Red Deer County to attend on its own, but Red Deer Regional Economic Development will be represented as a group, and that’s a big plus for all involved, she said.

“I think it’s a very strong partnership. From our perspective, we can be far more effective and pool our resources. If we leverage our dollars, we can make a much more significant impact for investors, for site selectors and for suppliers.”

As far as the City of Red Deer is concerned, it only makes sense for these organizations to form a united front to best benefit from prosperous times.

“Trends of unprecedented growth in the oil service industry has resulted in increased manufacturing sales and confirmed the importance of working to establish the Red Deer corridor as Canada’s economic capital,” said Cyril Cooper, land & economic development officer for the City of Red Deer.

Working with such major stakeholders means lots of superb brainstorming sessions stretching dollars for all kinds of projects that much further.

“It’s a very collaborative group and very mobile in terms of our decision-making,” he explains. “It’s a very active group.”

mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca