May
25, 2006
Regional
Economic and Co-operative Development - 418
ACTION
SOUTHWEST BEST IN WORLD
Action
Southwest , a partnership
strategy aimed at growing southwest Saskatchewan's
economy, has been recognized internationally for its economic
development efforts.
The
initiative was the winner of Business Retention and Expansion
International's (BREI) 2006
Multi-Community Program Award for populations under
200,000, for the implementation of a regional project focused
on business retention and
expansion.
"I congratulate Action
Southwest on winning this
prestigious award," Deputy Premier
and Regional Economic and Co-operative Development Minister
Clay Serby said. " Action
Southwest is a true leader
in developing strategies designed to launch
a permanent change in how regional stakeholders do business
together now and in the future."
Action
Southwest partners - including business, governments, education,
Crown corporations and citizen champions - have brought together
the assets and resources of southwestern communities, and created
a plan to enhance the region's ability to compete in the global
marketplace. Implemented in 2004, the initiative has created
an economic impact that will benefit the region well into the
future.
"The
leadership demonstrated by the Action Southwest economic alliance
has brought forth a new entrepreneurial vibe and enterprise
mentality," Action Southwest Project Manager Sandra Blyth
said. " Action Southwest is instilling new regional pride
and confidence to invest in community development for the purpose
of business retention, expansion and investment attraction."
Saskatchewan
Regional Economic and Co-operative Development Provincial Business
Retention and Expansion Manager and Action
Southwest member Doug Howorko
accepted the award on behalf of Action
Southwest May 18th at the
2006 BREI conference in Omaha,
Nebraska.
Howorko
was in Omaha to promote Regina as the host city of the 2007
BREI conference.
"Saskatchewan is home
to award-winning programs, and we are looking forward to learning
more about these initiatives and sharing them with our members,"
BREI president Henry M. Cothran
said. "That, along with the hospitality of Regina, will
make for an excellent conference in 2007."
BREI
is a leading professional association for business retention
and expansion, providing leadership
resources, education, and networking opportunities,
and building international awareness of the importance of business
retention and expansion programs to communities and regions.
