A market study, a new website and a home-based business brochure.
It's all in a year's work for Nicole Sullivan.
Sullivan has almost completed her tenure as the head of REDAC — the Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee — and at last Tuesday's Parry Sound town council meeting read an overview of what she and her team have accomplished this year.
An area market study and gap analysis that spoke to local businesses and planners to get a sense of priorities for local development was released in May; a website (www.cityfree.ca), which includes a land inventory launched to market perspective businesses; and a brochure that encourages new business ventures top the list.
"REDAC has made significant progress over the past year and members deserve to be proud of what has been accomplished," wrote Sullivan in an e-mail response.
Created in 2006 as a joint venture between the town of Parry Sound and Seguin and McDougall Townships to attract economic development to the area, the cost to run the program is split 40 per cent, 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively between the three.
It has been in action for just over a year, and for 2008 ran on a shoestring budget of $50,000 — $20,000 from Parry Sound and Seguin and $10,000 from McDougall, along with some subsidized funding for Sullivan's position from FedNor, a federal program that supports growth in the north.
"There's been a credible amount of work done," said McDougall Mayor Dale Robinson, after Sullivan read REDAC's report card at McDougall council last Wednesday.
He compared the local REDAC budget to that of Peterborough's, which is $2 million, he said.
Some of the organization's upcoming projects include:
? Establishing a satellite community college campus with residences in the Parry Sound area.
? Implementing a clear communications plan when it comes to promoting REDAC and its projects.
? REDAC has collected information on the availability of area municipal water, sewer, hydro, highway, natural gas, cellular, broadband and railway infrastructure and hopes to identify and prioritize gaps in these services.
Sullivan's last day is Dec. 23. She is leaving the Parry Sound area to go travelling.
"It was my pleasure to assist them as they gathered momentum for what appears to be a very promising future. I wish the committee and its members all the best," she said.
Every year a report card will be issued from REDAC to keep municipalities up to date on its developments.