Giving his monthly verbal report on the highlights in his department, Director of Economic Development and Tourism Dan Borowec addressed county council's Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Standing Committee meeting at its June meeting.
“As always, some of our challenges revolve around the need for employment lands and availability, but nonetheless I certainly believe Northumberland is very, very much on the radar,” Borowec said.
“Certainly the enquiries come not only from the private sector but from the public sector on what might be available in terms of investment opportunities.”
Not every enquiry results in such an investment, he said. But often those who made the enquiries will remember Northumberland when another opportunity comes around.
“It's good to know that many of thee have a food and/or agricultural bent to them.”
The collaborative and collegial relationship among municipalities “goes a long way towards building trust,” he added.
Filling a staff vacancy for the septic inspector's position is slow going, Borowec reported. “It's a highly competitive labour market out there, and certainly it's a price-competitive scenario out there, especially for those in the skilled trades.”
Borowec made a comparison with 2008-2009, that period of economic challenge that saw so many people approaching the county for help in starting their own businesses.
“We are finding that same situation is coming out of COVID, as our Entrepreneurship Strategy programs have met their numbers. We found we could probably run another program quite easily.”