New regional board moves step closer
Local organization will prepare and execute a 5-year business plan
Dave Hall, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, May 20, 2006
A new board of directors governing economic development strategies across the region is expected to be in place by early June, said Mayor Eddie Francis.
A member of a transitional board which is overseeing the process, Francis said the board met this week to review the applications and expects to establish a new board within two to three weeks.
"We're all anxious to get this process moving along and put the new board in place," said Francis.
The new board will eventually oversee a regional economic development organization which will replace the existing Windsor-Essex County Development Commission.
Others members of the transitional board are Essex County Warden Mike Raymond, city chief administrative officer John Skorobohacz and county CAO Brian Gregg.
Skorobohacz said the board received more than 50 applications.
"I'm confident we can put together a board which encompasses all the sectors across the entire region," Skorobohacz said.
"It's time to demonstrate that this organization is truly representative of the entire region and that starts with the makeup of the board," he added.
Gregg said that "while finding a representative mix would be ideal, what we're really trying to do is get the right people around the table -- people who are champions for the region."
The new 11-member board will consist of Gregg and Skorobohacz along with representatives from business, education and health care.
After picking a chief executive officer for the new regional organization by early fall, the new board will prepare and execute a five-year business plan.
It will include strategies to retain and expand investment, attract new investment and develop a support network for business creation, innovation and research and development.
FUNDING FORMULA
A new funding formula is also being recommended with cost-sharing on a per capita basis.
In the past, the city contributed roughly 80 per cent of the commission's $1.2-million budget but under this formula, its share would fall to about 52 per cent even though the dollar value of its contribution would increase over time.
"It's a fair formula and reflects the level of funding that will be required to allow us to be more proactive in selling the attributes of the region than we have been in the past," said Skorobohacz.
Under the new formula, the first-year rate would be $3.50 per capita for a budget of about $1.347 million, rising by 50 cents per year to a fifth-year figure of $5.50 for a budget of $2.117 million by 2010.
dhall@thestar.canwest.com or 255-5777, Ext. 408.
© The Windsor Star 2006