Go forth and diversify-meeting today's challenges; West Parry Sound area leaders want to roll out the carpet for new business.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NEWS

The Parry Sound area has always been a popular place for cottagers and campers.

But when the main economic driver is the tourism and hospitality industry, it's subject to a degree of uncertainty from seasonal factors, high gas prices and the travel industry's fickle nature.

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Three municipalities are collaborating to create a plan to identify and market the area's business potential and encourage investment from outside and local sources.

"The general rule of thumb is 80 to 85 percent of new business comes from within," says Nicole Sullivan, Parry Sound's economic development coordinator.

A Regional Development Economic Advisory Committee (RDAC) wants to diversify the local economy by taking stock of what activity is going on and determine what new industry best compliments the existing base.

A previous effort to get seven area municipalities to think as one turned into a huge political football when it came to issues such as funding big capital projects like Parry Sound's new hospital.

There's now a slimmed down version involving the Town of Parry Sound, McDougall and Seguin Townships to come up with an economic development strategy for all three.

They want to encourage local businesses to invest and expand by cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamline the municipal approvals process, and enact more business-friendly bylaws.

"Rather than go out and chase smokestacks to attract people to come here, why don't we build the infrastructure inside the community?," says Bill Spinney general manager of the Parry Sound Area Community Business and Development Centre.

The group has produced a handful of ideas such as having a more visible community presence for North Bay's Canadore College beyond its campus on the second floor of a downtown building.

What's needed is local niche programming in health services and skilled trades training.

Sullivan says the town has been consulting with local business owners in identifying the local strengths and weaknesses and what can be done to make their work function easier.

A new study by consultants Malone Given Parsouse revealed that based on employment numbers in recent years, there has been growth in arts, entertainment and recreation (golf courses, marinas); construction, real estate and leasing; and the health care and social assistance sectors.

They have identified four emerging 'trigger' opportunities revolving around development...