City of Quesnel successful on the Economic Development front

From the City of Quesnel:

Editor's Note - while the Quesnel Community Economic Development has been very successful during the 2008-2011 Quesnel Council term, Williams Lake's equivalent Economic Development Corporation has been stuck in neutral, due to inadquate political leadership here in Williams Lake which I hope and pray gets replaced in November's civic elections

After three years of extensive grant writing, project administration and capital expenditures, the City of Quesnel and Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation have completed a series of 11 projects that have infused more than $2.8 million in grant funding and over 100 temporary jobs into the local economy.

Some of the projects include: the Fraser River Footbridge Revitalization ($1.51 million in grants, matched by $400,000 from the City); The Bulk Water Distribution Plant ($270,000 in grants, matched by $311, 652 from the City and generated more than $60,000 in revenue in 2010); and the 2010 Olympic Torch relay ($80,500 in grants).

“The QCEDC, under the leadership of the volunteer Board members and the dedication of their staff have secured a phenomenal amount of funding for projects that the City would not have been able to fund on our own,” said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “We look forward to embarking on a new program of community and economic development projects, and to continuing our partnership with QCEDC as we strengthen and diversify our economy.”

Going forward , the City will provide accounting support to QCEDC through the City’s finance department. There will also be strengthened lines of communication between the Board and Quesnel City Council wherein a new grant application protocol will heighten alignment of strategic priorities between the two parties.

“By reducing the administrative burden on our staff, we can focus more on developing proposals, seeking community investment and strengthening our economic development programs,” explained QCEDC Board Chair Tony Bensted. “The QCEDC is proud of the work we’ve done for this community, and we look forward to continued successes.”

The QCEDC is a wholly-owned, arms-length corporation of the City of Quesnel. Over the past eight years, it has retained earnings of $30,546.47. In some years, such as 2010, the corporation ran a deficit ($7,614), while in others it ran surpluses (2009, $12,681 and 2008, $1,592.48).