Getting down to business

Consultant hired to provide West Hants with more economic development opportunities

West Hants council is forging ahead with plans to hire an economic development officer in the hopes of bringing more business to the region.

Council discussed the new position July 10 during an incamera (or private) session. Once the council chambers reopened to the public, a motion was made to hire a consultant to provide economic development services for a one-year contract. The total cost is $62,400 plus net HST.

Warden Abraham Zebian said in an interview that the role will be “pretty straightforward” and that council hopes the person will “bring us a lot of business.”

The role was already accounted for in this year’s budget, Zebian said.

The warden said the position will complement the work already being done by the Valley Regional Enterprise Network — a group incorporated in 2014 under the Municipal Government Act. The purpose of the Valley REN, which consists of Glooscap First Nation, the Municipality of the County of Kings, Municipality of the District of West Hants, and the towns of Berwick, Kentville, Middleton, Windsor and Wolfville, is to guide regional economic development while also providing support to existing businesses.

“We have the Valley REN that works among many units but we believe this individual will concentrate the efforts here for our area and maybe even capitalize more with the Valley REN — maybe put us more on their radar,” said Zebian.