Meaford is developing a strategic plan to deal with potential future development.
Thanks to a 79 thousand dollar grant from the Rural Economic Development Program, the municipality will look at ways to identify barriers for economic growth in the communities agri business, tourism, retail and green business sectors.
CAO Frank Miele says this project will help Meaford develop a plan to strengthen its long term sustainability attract and retain local businesses and also enhance its image and downtown core.
He says they have several groups of citizen volunteers looking at the various economic sectors and analyzing just what has to be done to make that sector either more competitive or attractive to outside investment.
Miele says he is hoping that they can put together an economic development strategy by the end of the year.
He says this strategy will be a blue print for identifying any infrastructure weaknesses and what can be done to strengthen the communities long term sustainability.
Miele says the municipality is matching the province’s 79 thousand dollar contribution bringing the total investment in this strategic process to more than 150 thousand dollars.