The Town of Innisfail will be celebrating Economic Development Week starting on Monday, May 9th until May 13th.

Economic Development Week was developed by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2016 to promote awareness of local programs that stimulate economic growth and, in turn, improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

Innisfail Town Council recently adopted a new Community Economic Development Strategy -- Power of Place -- that focuses on deeply engaging the community to boldly lead the development of local markets for property, goods, services, labour, and energy.

“The success of a community is built on the power of place, defined by the synergies of the community, economy, and capacity. This synergy is able to produce results greater than the sum of the individual parts,” said Mayor Jean Barclay. “Leadership requires an open mind, the willingness to collaborate, the ability to build relationships, and having respect for others.”

Since adopting the strategy, the Town has rolled up its sleeves to tackle immediate priorities with the guidance of community leaders through the newly-formed Community Economic Development Advisory Committee. First orders of business included investment readiness, meeting with industry leaders and forging a partnership with the Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce.

“The Power of Place strategy is an important first step in aligning the values of residents, businesses, community organizations, town staff and elected officials. The next step is working together to improve the quality of life here in Innisfail” said Pat Bourne, Chair of the Advisory Committee.

According to the Power of Place Strategy, the role of community economic development is to identify local market challenges and opportunities, and then rally the community around local solutions. In this way, the community works together to create a place where market forces are fostering prosperity. At its core, this means taking action to connect the forces of supply and demand like connecting electrical wires. The result is the power to change the future to reflect the aspirations of local residents.

The Town’s success depends on the willingness of residents, businesses, and community organizations to work together