At the March 20th South Dundas council meeting, economic development officer Nicole Sullivan recommended “that council retain the services of McSweeney & Associates to complete an update to the 2005 South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan for a cost of $10,000.”
As reported earlier this year, Sullivan, with permission from council, submitted a completed application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) for funding to complete the project to update the 2005 economic plan.
“As part of that application,” she said, “we were required to have two quotes with it.”
“Quotes were obtained from Dillon Consulting and McSweeney & Associates whose services were retained to complete the South Dundas Community Strategic Plan and the SD&G Strategic Economic Development Action Plan respectively.”
Project objectives include:
• “Provide a realistic and strategic approach to economic development for the next five years;
• Align local economic development efforts with those of the community and region, identifying complementary and mutually supportive activities; and,
• Encourage advancement and accountability in local economic development.”
Sullivan’s recommendation for McSweeney & Associates was based on a group decision following a review and discussion period. The group included mayor Steven Byvelds, chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald, chair of the economic development advisory committee Mark Prost, and Sullivan herself.
Following Sullivan’s recommendation and council’s approval, mayor Steven Byvelds said, “McSweeney & Associates can certainly bring us some useful information.”
“Funding was allocated under the 2012 capital budget,” reported Sullivan, “if our application to the EODP is successful that will offset our costs.”
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