The village of Forestburg Council is looking forward to promote economic development, says CAO Deborah Moffat.

Council has had meetings with business people and the general public, and is in the process of working up a few activities and plans.

Moffat says one thing that was quickly identified was the need for business succession planning, and says that the village hopes to be hosting a succession planning session soon.

“One thing that has been achieved is that Council is forging and cementing a connection to businesses and the community,” she says.

“We recognize that we need to both attract new business and secure our current businesses.

“It is just as vitally important to support current business as attracting new.”

Economic development is something that has been on Council’s radar for a few years, Moffat says, but there was always another project that needed to be done immediately.

“The potential closure of the mine and plant brought this to the forefront.”

The village has still not heard anything definite from the province about the legislated shut down of coal-fired states like the Battle River facility.

“We have sent a letter to Derek Bilious, Minister of Municipal Affairs, as well as to the ministries of Agriculture and Energy,” says Moffat.

“We are trying to be proactive, and not reactive.

“We are working on this now because we believe that when the jobs are gone, the people may be as well.”

Moffat says the village has looked into the feasibility of forming an Investment Opportunity Co., and are looking at doing a study of what gaps exist in the community. “What businesses and services could we use? What business would thrive here?

She says they hope to narrow it to five top possibilities, and then go after those.

“We will be much more supportive of businesses who rely on renewable energy.

“Forestburg has always been an energy-driven village, outside the oil and gas industry, and we can continue to be.

“We have people with a certain level of expertise in that area, we want something that will consider that an asset for locating in Forestburg.