Boomtown Final.Pdf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................... 1 2.0 Key Findings from the Research .............................................. 1 2.1 Challenges ..........................................................................2 2.2 Opportunities ......................................................................2 3.0 Boomtown to Sustainable Town: Recommended Strategies and Actions ...................................................................... 4 3.1 Attraction Strategies ..............................................................4 Strategy 1: Create a Sustainable Economic Development Office for Town of Smithers in Conjunction with Electoral Area “A” of the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako .....................................4 Strategy 2: Build a Resource-Based Industry Supply and Services Cluster in Smithers, Focussing Initially on Mining Supply and Services. ......................................................................7 Strategy 3: Support the on-going work of the Smithers Exploration Group (SEG) and School of Exploration and Mining (SEM), to offer courses geared to the exploration and mining industry. ................ 10 Strategy 4: Support The Development Of New Products From Forest-Based Biomass, Including Bio-Energy ............................... 10 Strategy 5: Support The Existing Agriculture Industry ................... 11 Strategy 6: Encourage the Development and Marketing of Smithers’ Tourism Products ................................................... 12 Strategy 7: Enhance the Quality and Availability of Local Market Information...................................................................... 14 Strategy 8: Keep Current and Actively Research Additional Resource-Based Industry Development Strategies ........................ 15 Community Economic 3.2 Accommodating Strategies ..................................................... 16 Development Study Strategy 9: Building on Existing Town Quality ............................. 16 Strategy 10: Plan For Future Residential Development Taking Cues from Existing Development Patterns ................................. 18 From Boomtown to Sustainable Town Strategy 11: Expand And Prepare Smithers’ Industrial Land Base For Economic Growth .......................................................... 19 Strategy 12: Encourage More Efficient Regulatory Process for FINAL REPORT New Investment ................................................................ 20 Prepared for 3.3 Summary of Strategies for Economic Development ........................ 21 Economic 4.0 In Closing .......................................................................22 Development Committee Appendices Town of Smithers Appendix A: The Facts About Smithers Appendix B: Contact Information March 2008 Appendix C: Bylaws From ODCEDS ToC 1.0 INTRODUCTION The final report of the Boomtown to Sustainable Town Economic Development Study is a response to the Economic Development Committee’s request to provide specific direction, through strategies and action steps that will support sustainable economic growth in Smithers. The report advocates diversity as a means of ensuring sustainability. Diversity refers to geographically diverse business markets as well as diversified growth across different economic sectors. Promoting diversity is key to weathering the booms and busts that typically occur in resource-based industries and minimizing the impact of these swings on the quality of life of Smithers’ residents. The recommended strategies are described in terms of their ability to attract new business investment and accommodate the related growth. Attraction Strategies prioritize growth in the resource-based industries, especially mining, as well as in tourism arts and culture and call for the creation of a new Sustainable Economic Development Office. Accommodating Strategies encourage the Committee to build on a strong asset: the town and recommend continued enhancement of the qualities that appeal strongly to people who live in and visit Smithers: its alpine charm; compact, human-scale downtown; exquisite natural setting close to outdoor amenities and a vibrant arts and culture community. The strategies also propose proactive development of Town-owned residential land, expansion and preparation of land for industrial development, and a shift towards a more efficient regulatory process for new business. The recommended strategies and actions have evolved from research spanning the corporate world and the local community. The research includes qualitative insights from key informants’ corporate understanding and residents’ deep local knowledge — documented in Briefing Reports 1 and 2 — as well as statistical facts Community Economic that are presented in The Facts About Smithers in Appendix A of this report. Development Study A summary of the key findings that shaped the recommended strategies is presented in the next section, followed by a description of the recommended From Boomtown to strategies. The consultants are pleased to have been part of this study and hope that it will lead to a stronger diversified local economy for theTown of Smithers. Sustainable Town 2.0 KEY FINDINGS FROM THE RESEARCH FINAL REPORT Statistics sometimes reveal facts about a community that are contrary to Prepared for commonly-held perceptions. In the case of Smithers, this proved to be the case with respect to anticipated population growth. Anecdotal comments indicated Economic a desire and urgent need to prepare for a considerable influx of people (e.g., Development 500). However, the statistics indicate that the population of Smithers has been Committee declining, though minimally, over the past ten year. The population is projected to Town of Smithers grow, but only modestly, in the future - in the range of 0.1% to 0.3% between now and 2031. This recognition emphasizes the importance of stimulating the Town’s economic growth. March 2008 Page 1 Like any community, the Town of Smithers faces both challenges and opportunities, but is also advantageously positioned to capitalize on these opportunities and meet the challenges. The town enjoys a relatively diversified local economy (given its size and location), an expanding and yet still affordable housing market, and a tourism sector with potential for growth. Its downtown alpine charm, which appeals to residents and visitors alike, sets it apart from other northern communities. Finally, strong leadership from the Town and interest in pursuing economic development, in particular related to the resource- based mining sector, are crucial ingredients to the successful implementation of strategies for economic growth. 2.1 Challenges Land Base Constraints. The Town’s physical boundaries — Bulkley River, mountains, and railway — constrain possible expansion. However, this can be considered a benefit and a means of encouraging compact and environmentally friendly growth, with denser residential development close to the core resulting in a walkable community. Given the Provincial government’s increasing expectation that communities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining the compactness of the Town is one way to do this. Struggling BC Forestry Sector. BC’s forest industry experienced the loss of almost 10,000 jobs in the past year. Weakening markets in the US, a strong Canadian dollar, Mountain Pine Beetle infestation and higher production costs have created a near perfect storm in the industry. Smithers has been impacted by the loss of 25 jobs and, elsewhere in the region, Houston lost 70 positions and Prince George 220. Regional Competition. To meet economic growth goals, especially in the mining support sector, Smithers will have to deal with strong competition from other communities. In particular, communities in close proximity exert some influence Community Economic on Smithers’ economic growth by competing directly for new jobs, retail floor Development Study space and residents. For example, Prince George is proactively enticing businesses to locate there and making efforts to establish an inter-modal transportation From Boomtown to facility. Spending leakage, to communities such as Terrace, is impacting potential retail growth. Sustainable Town 2.2 Opportunities FINAL REPORT Resource-Rich Location. Key among Smithers’ advantages is its location in a Prepared for resource-rich part of the Province that is experiencing considerable investment Economic in mining exploration and development. Development Committee The BC Government described 2007 as a strong year for mining in Northwest BC, Town of Smithers noting that it experienced “robust mine performance, great strides toward new mines and a frenetic pace of exploration”. Approximately $385 million was spent March 2008 on construction and development activities towards eventual production and one Page 2 mine in the region, The Ruby Creek mine, announced that it will go to production. Late in 2007, the Galore Creek Mine announced that it was putting construction on hold because of escalating costs, but has since then announced a re-assessment of activities that would allow it to return to future production. The Government reports that 2008 could be a pivotal year for positive growth in the mining sector in northwest BC. Research suggests that direct jobs in the mining industry may be on the decline, but technological advances that use more machines, services, technology and specialist labour will require greater support in the mining supply and