Development agency opens new office in Gander Bay
New economic opportunities may already exist in places such as Gander Bay. Sometimes they just need a little guidance to the show them the way to that prosperity.
It's one of the reasons the Kittiwake Economic Development Corp. has established a new office in Gander Bay. Through a labour market proposal program with Services Canada, the regional economic development board has hired a full-time project co-ordinator, who is working out of an office at the Riverside United Church in George's Point for the next year.
Bill Hardiman is also living in the community during that period.
"We got talking about areas not seeing much uptake," said the KEDC's executive director, Jill Bennett, who works out of the agency's main office in Gander's McCurdy Complex.
The project co-ordinator will now look at the labour market and the general activity in the Gander Bay area, including the needed skills sets, the level of post-secondary and economic opportunities that may exist.
Ms. Bennett used tourism as one example.
You have a group of communities along the route, and a lot of people drive that route every summer. There’s a lot that could be fostered along those lines,” she said. The key, she added, is not to dictate to the community about what it needs to do. “It’s not so much to lend a hand as it is a guiding hand. Sometimes it’s a matter of people not knowing the process and how to make their ideas tangible. 
Mr. Hardiman’s first order of business is to foster a relationship with the community, create an awareness about his presence, and meet with community leaders.
Eventually, he will collect data and then make recommendations to the community.
“He’s there to work with the community and engage people to hear what they say about any projects they see in their communities,” Ms. Bennett said.
The KEDC serves a region from Lewisporte to Charlottetown.
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