The 小蓝视频 Saskatchewan Regional Economic Partnership (SSREP), previously the Deep 小蓝视频 Economic Partnership, was formed as a result of coal transition and to mitigate economic effects through better positioning of member communities to attract new businesses and investment through the development of actionable strategic plans and promotion of communities through branding.
Member communities include the towns of Coronach, Willow Bunch, Bengough and Rockglen, as well as the RM鈥檚 of Willow Bunch, Bengough, Happy Valley, Poplar Valley and Hart Butte.
The SSREP had five main strategic pillars consisting of organization capacity, workforce transition (including retention and attraction), tourism development, resource development and business retention (expansion and attraction).
The Managing Director of the SSREP, Sean Wallace, said, 鈥淚t is really a testament of how well these communities work together through the realization of how intertwined local economies are in rural settings.鈥�
Feasibility studies are currently underway, with focuses on agri-food, resources and energy, tourism and renewables recyclables, with the expected completion in March 2021.
Communities are also researching their brands with community surveys closing on November 23, 2020. Depending on the analysis, some communities will adopt either new brands or updated brands. Branding is expected to be completed by March 31, 2021. Additionally, a number of new economic policies have been developed that will make the SSREP region one of the most competitive areas in Western Canada.
鈥淥ur region has traditionally worked very well together. Our communities are close-knit and we know when one community is affected by adversity, other communities step up to help. I am looking forward to the work of the SSREP and realizing the benefits of cooperation,鈥� said Trevor Schnell, Chair of the SSREP.
