After months of consultation, a draft of the 39/20 Alliance Economic Development Strategy is now available for your review.

The document outlines goals and opportunities for the communities of Breton, Calmar, Thorsby and Warburg. There are eight recommendations based on what was heard during the open houses, interviews, and the online survey. These include:

• Ensure mechanisms are in place to support local businesses
• Be business ready
• Formalize regional collaboration for economic development
• Develop a regional web site
• Develop regional business license/business directory
• Develop community/regional Vision and/or branding
• Develop a plan for clear and consistent communication
• Find new ways to listen and empower citizens

A draft is now available to get constructive feedback from citizens and businesses in the region. At various points throughout the document, there are opportunities to comment on the content being proposed. At the end, readers are asked for their overall thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. The feedback from this and the open house will be compiled and, where possible, incorporated into a final version to be released in August 2015.

Residents and businesses are also encouraged to have their say in person at an open house in Warburg on July 21. The event will be held at Warburg’s Village Office from 5 – 8 p.m. and give participants a chance to talk directly with the writers.