We asked, you answered.
Our second Membership Roundtable Meeting produced many intriguing ideas that will help shape our direction as not only the voice of Ladysmith business but also a champion of local economic development.
Facilitated by George Hansen, manager of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, the meeting last month reviewed our proposed core priorities: Marketing & Communications, Fundraising & Sustainability, Member Relations, and Economic Development.
We asked for your feedback, and the results were helpful and practical — not to mention plentiful. In fact, the members had enough suggestions to fill a couple of pages with notes! (You’ll find the minutes of the meeting here.)
Business and economic development were the focal points, with recommendations ranging from creating a business recruitment strategy to working with Town Council to develop a “can do,” friendly approach to business development and support.
More support and resources for small business were seen as priorities too.
Participants also called for a coordinated implementation strategy for economic development. As the first step in coming up with a plan, Mark Drysdale, Peter Richmond and Carol Henderson will gather all local economic development reports that have been prepared recently by the Town.
All attendees agreed to participate in reviewing these reports and reporting back before the next Membership Roundtable Meeting, set for March 25, from 7pm-9pm at the Ladysmith Little Theatre.
If you’d like to get involved, please join us for our next Roundtable meeting (details to be announced soon). It’ll be a very productive use of your time, and all of our businesses and our community will benefit.