Spokes
01-07-2010, 06:24 PM
Committee looks at economic future
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff
Jan 06, 2010
Undeveloped land is quickly disappearing in Waterloo and the municipality’s economic development committee wants the city to have a strategic vision as applications come in to fill those few remaining plots.
The committee is organizing an economic summit this spring that will collect various visions of the city — from city staff, members of the WEDC and other interested parties.
“We’re inviting and pursuing some comment from leaders,” said Paul Puopolo, vice-chair of the WEDC. “We want their vision of the City of Waterloo.
The goal of the summit is to set the priorities of the WEDC and form the organization’s recommendations for the city’s official plan, the document that lays out planning for the city.
The group also hopes to get a grasp on the area’s economy and how it will look in the coming years.
“The City of Waterloo is going through such a major transition from manufacturing to advanced manufacturing and high tech,” Puopolo said “There’s a little land base so (the city) needs to be smart in developing lands and have a real strategy in doing so.”
Puopolo believes the summit will strengthen the WEDC and firm up its mandate.
“This will allow us to communicate how we see the vision of the community in the future,” he said.
The summit is still in the development stages but has gained approval from city councillors. It’s scheduled for the spring but no venue or firm date has been chosen.
The committee has identified four major sectors to focus their attention on — education and research, high-tech, finance and the service industry.
They will hold panel discussions on all four of those major sectors and then break into smaller groups to discuss issues.
“We’ll be hearing from development and planning staff, business leaders, key stakeholders and citizens,” Puopolo said.
He’s also hoping to see representation from other parties like Canada’s Technology Triangle and the UpTown Waterloo Business Improvement Area.
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/198983
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff
Jan 06, 2010
Undeveloped land is quickly disappearing in Waterloo and the municipality’s economic development committee wants the city to have a strategic vision as applications come in to fill those few remaining plots.
The committee is organizing an economic summit this spring that will collect various visions of the city — from city staff, members of the WEDC and other interested parties.
“We’re inviting and pursuing some comment from leaders,” said Paul Puopolo, vice-chair of the WEDC. “We want their vision of the City of Waterloo.
The goal of the summit is to set the priorities of the WEDC and form the organization’s recommendations for the city’s official plan, the document that lays out planning for the city.
The group also hopes to get a grasp on the area’s economy and how it will look in the coming years.
“The City of Waterloo is going through such a major transition from manufacturing to advanced manufacturing and high tech,” Puopolo said “There’s a little land base so (the city) needs to be smart in developing lands and have a real strategy in doing so.”
Puopolo believes the summit will strengthen the WEDC and firm up its mandate.
“This will allow us to communicate how we see the vision of the community in the future,” he said.
The summit is still in the development stages but has gained approval from city councillors. It’s scheduled for the spring but no venue or firm date has been chosen.
The committee has identified four major sectors to focus their attention on — education and research, high-tech, finance and the service industry.
They will hold panel discussions on all four of those major sectors and then break into smaller groups to discuss issues.
“We’ll be hearing from development and planning staff, business leaders, key stakeholders and citizens,” Puopolo said.
He’s also hoping to see representation from other parties like Canada’s Technology Triangle and the UpTown Waterloo Business Improvement Area.
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/198983