May
25, 2006
Saskatchewan
Regional Economic and Co-operative Development - Press Release
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.
