Development dollars welcome: trio of communities awarded improvement funding.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: TEMISKAMING & REGION

The communities of Cobalt, Coleman Township and Latchford are embarking on a unique partnership that will enhance economic development for all three communities.

In April, the trio was awarded $301,500 by FedNor to jointly hire an economic development officer (EDO) for a three-year term.

"We're three small municipalities and so we have an oversight committee--a Cobalt, Coleman and Latchford Economic Development Committee--and that person will be working for all three of us," explained Cobalt Mayor Tina Sartoretto. "It's kind of an unusual situation; we are three relatively compatible communities, but our needs are quite a bit different."

Sartoretto said each municipality will go over its strategic plan to find areas of focus. Initial estimates show their needs range widely.

Latchford and Coleman, for example, remain without natural gas, even though the pipeline runs through those communities, Sartoretto said. Some residents in the area, meanwhile, still are without high-speed internet.

"It's a big issue, especially when you look at some of the businesses that have established themselves in Cobalt the last few years," she said.

In Cobalt, one area of focus will be business attraction, retention and expansion, but Sartoretto concedes the new EDO will have her work cut out for her. With a geographical reach measuring just 2.7 square kilometres and limited available retail space, it will be a challenge to lure and retain more business to the area. But, "certainly, the...