Yarmouth chamber looks to year ahead

Chamber president cites airport, ferry, highways as issues of importance

Transportation has long been among the biggest issues for Yarmouth’s chamber of commerce and it remains so as the organization heads into 2018.

Whether it’s the Yarmouth airport, the ferry connection with Maine or the province’s highways, transportation continues to figure prominently for the chamber.

Both the airport and ferry have been in the news lately and both are key pieces of the region’s economic picture, says Neil Rogers, president of the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Our airport is an integral part of our transportation infrastructure in southwest Nova Scotia even though there is no scheduled air service,” Rogers said. “It is still a busy airport.”

The airport was in the news last year after the decision by the local airport corporation to change the facility’s certification. More recently, it was announced that Alain Muise, CAO for the Municipality of Argyle, would be the airport’s new interim manager.

Ferry service is another topic that tends to be at or near the top of issues for the Yarmouth chamber.

Last fall there was word of a situation with customs in Portland that could jeopardize the ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine. Rogers said the cham- ber was pleased to learn that a temporary solution had been found.

“We are confident that a permanent solution will be found and that Bay Ferries continues to provide a very important tour- ist link to the Eastern seaboard of the United States and Central Canada,” he said.

With regard to roads, Rogers said the chamber would like to see the completion of highways 101 and 103 and is pleased to see progress.

The chamber looks forward to continued economic growth in all sectors, he said.

“We are the service centre for southwest Nova Scotia and are pleased to see new infrastructure being built and planned for our community,” he said.

Citing the importance of traditional industries – fishery and forestry – he noted too the plans by Avalon Advanced Materials to open a tin mine at the site of the former Rio Algom mine.

Meanwhile, as the chamber continues to keep an eye on the local economy, the chamber itself has been mapping out its future, identifying priorities for the next few years.

To name a couple, the chamber will be looking to increase member satisfaction and engagement, as well as provide members with education and business development strategies.

The chamber also is looking for a new executive director to succeed Matthew Trask, who is leaving after about three years in the position.

Trask helped lead the chamber through a new strategic planning process, increased its membership and enhanced the chamber’s profile, Rogers said.

“We are the service centre for southwest Nova Scotia and are pleased to see new infrastructure being built and planned for our community.”

— Neil Rogers