Action Southwest Identifies over 30 Projects to Grow Industry and Region
March 14, 2005
Since November 2004 over 120 key regional stakeholders have been engaged in a bottom-up strategy to grow the southwest region. This broad-based regional initiative is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. To date, communities have largely looked within their own boundaries for solutions to economic and social challenges faced, until now.
The Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition (ASBNC) and its numerous volunteers have been at work shaping our region’s next steps in development. They have taken the opportunity to choose the future of our region. Over 30 projects and action plans have been identified to grow our industries and region.
Here is a sample of some of the projects identified for growth.
One of the six Energy sector projects identified will address the regions current labour shortage through the development of a high school Energy/Safety Awareness Program. The program would involve demonstration of equipment used in daily rig activity, information specific to jobs performed, job types and information on the safety and environmental commitments of the energy sector including H2S awareness. Steps have already been taken to start implementation of this project by the fall of 2005.
One of the ten Tourism sector projects identified is packaging tourist experiences. The action plan is to create a package of “100 experiences” that can only be found by exploring the great southwest. The purpose of the project will be to cross promote the entire region. Steps have already been taken to start identifying possible experiences to package.
A total of eight projects were identified in the Agribusiness sector, one of which is to link agribusiness to tourism by creating agricultural visitor attractions. Interestingly similar to the previously mentioned project this initiative will allow visitors to experience life on a farm or ranch, or tour our grain terminals and pulse plants. Through collaboration, these projects have the potential to have a huge impact on numerous industries.
The Manufacturing sector has recognized nine strategies in total. The establishment of a Lean Manufacturing Consortium is one of the projects highlighted. One of the first steps in implementing this project will involve promoting and hosting a lean principles workshop in the southwest region. This workshop will focus on eliminating waste in an organization by paying attention to what the customer requires. The ASBNC has taken action on this and is hosting the “Lean, Because You Can” workshop on March 31, 2005 at the Days Inn Swift Current. This workshop is for all industries not just manufacturing. For more information and to register please call 1-800-642-3871 or 780-426-6622.
This workshop represents the first action step of many that will be taken by the ASBNC. We are excited to get started and hope that you can join us in our journey.These strategies are stakeholder-crafted, market-focused collaborations that will address industry challenges that range from securing new sources of innovation and workforce skills to improving financing of early stage enterprise to enhancing cooperation in marketing. The actions are intentionally modest in focus, designed to be within the grasp of participants, with the goal of proving that collaborating to compete is a feasible and
desirable way to continue living and working in the southwest.
A compilation of all the projects identified and information will be drafted in a final report to be released in the spring of 2005. The completion of Phase I of the ASBNC strategy has involved several steps that conclude with the launch of “Action Plan Implementation”. Please continue to visit our web site at www.actionsouthwest.com for current information on our projects and available resources.
Working together, through small steps, we can achieve great things.
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