Creating economic growth in a town takes a plan, but it also takes the willingness to abandon that plan. It also takes ambition, drive, and a salesman attitude.
That was the message from Camrose economic development manager Dennis Twomey, who spoke to the Lac La Biche and District Chamber of Commerce Thursday evening.
With expanding oilsands activity, the region is going to grow with or without the participation of Lac La Biche, said Chamber president Brian Stratichuk in his introduction of Twomey to the Chamber, adding that taking an active role in that growth would benefit Chamber members and the community as a whole.
“It’s going to happen whether we like it or not,” he said.
In the hopes of learning from other’s past successes, the Chamber invited Twomey to talk about Camrose’s economic development efforts.
The smallest city in Alberta, with a population of 17,000, turned themselves into a regional centre, and attracted new business, as well as adding to their population with a multi-pronged approach.
“We wanted to be the regional centre for everything,” Twomey told the roughly two dozen Chamber members as they finished up a complimentary supper of chicken souvlaki from Tom’s Restaurant, courtesy of the Ramada Hotel.
To become that centre of everything meant that Camrose leaders had to stop the weekend exodus as people drove to Edmonton to do their shopping. Although he knew there would be resistance from some, and that small businesses may fail if they couldn’t adapt, Twomey took the unusual step of inviting Walmart to move to town.
They said no. Camrose was too small for a Walmart, Twomey was told. But they also said this was the first time a town had ever invited the company to set up shop, rather than opposing the company’s plans. And for that reason the company said they would talk with Twomey, who works for the City of Camrose.
A couple of years later, Walmart opened their doors. Some small businesses closed their doors and others lost some business, but Twomey noted that with a year lead-time, other businesses prepared for the incoming competition and made the most of it.
Walmart was the first big step that started the city on the journey to becoming a vibrant centre, with other large retailers moving into town soon after, Twomey told his audience.
The city now boasts a big-box/large retailer service centre that has succeeded in keeping shoppers in Camrose.
But retail was only one part of the city’s plan. They also set out to become the regional centre for healthcare, and the city now employs 2,000 people in the healthcare industry, said Twomey.
But what worked for Camrose won’t necessarily work for Lac La Biche, he said, but they still face similar issues common to rural Alberta.
“At the end of the day when you get down to it, the challenges are the same,” he said.
His advice was for the people of Lac La Biche to take a look at themselves and take stock of what they have, while realizing what they don’t have, and what they can’t be.
The growth of the health industry in Camrose began with the hospital, said Twomey, and building on what they had was a key to the success of their economic development plan.
For any economic plan to work, said Twomey, the community had to be behind the concept of growth.
“You must have community commitment,” he said.
