Town council has endorsed in principle a study it hopes will result in greater small-scale economic activity in the community.
At its June 21 meeting, council put its stamp of approval on the Building a Creative Rural Economy – a cultural plan for Minto put together by a cross section of community groups, individuals, town staff, and consulting firm Authenticity/Millier Dickinson Blais.
It is funded by a $55,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture under its Creative Community Prosperity Fund.
Consultant Greg Baeker told council Minto is the first community of its size to create a cultural plan.
“I think Minto is the smallest municipality in the province that has undertaken one of these,” he said.
“With the biggest heart,” Councillor Ron Elliott responded.
Baeker said the plan took almost a year to put together.
“It was the steering committee and the community,” he added. “It was a bottom up process to get it together.”
The study includes identifying economic challenges in the community, defining the existing creative rural economy and how it can be expanded to create new employment opportunities, and mapping tangible and intangible cultural assets.
It also looked at Minto’s long cultural history, including historic stories and annual festivals and events that take place in the community.
“One hundred and ninety-eight in all,” the consultant said of the festivals and events that take place each year.
Concern was raised the endorsement could force additional costs on council.
However, Baeker said “any initiative requiring an investment by council would come back to council.”
Deputy-mayor Terry Fisk said the plan would require council put aside funds.
“In the future that will be a budget item,” the deputy mayor said.
He added money for specific projects resulting from the study could also be funded by community groups.
“It’s an investment that doesn’t necessarily come from council. We can work on greater partnerships,” he said, citing the $25,000 investment from the Harriston Kinsmen Club to develop the Tannery Park Project. That commitment was made earlier during the council meeting.
Mayor George Bridge said the plan for small-scale economic development would augment large companies that already provide jobs in Minto.
“We’re going to win this battle on economic development on a small scale,” the mayor said. “If we’re going to invest money, we have to know what we’re getting back; it’s a business.”
Councillor Mary Lou Colwell, on behalf of council, congratulated all who helped put the study together.
The next step will be the establishment of a cultural roundtable to develop, together with town staff, a detailed implementation plan along with a communication strategy to keep residents aware of what is happening and bring that message to people outside Minto.
