Regional economic promotion proceeds

Greg Radstaak, formerly the economic development officer for the District of Smoky River, is now manager for High Prairie-based Lesser Slave Lake Economic Alliance.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Greg Radstaak is on a mission to promote the Lesser Slave Lake region as a place to live and set up business. “The Lesser Slave Lake region has tremendous opportunities, especially for young people,” says Radstaak. He wears two hats, one as the manager of the Lesser Slave Lake Economic Alliance and the other as director of Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Regional Development Branch in High Prairie. He works out of a new office on the second floor of the Moostoos Building. Radstaak will spend most of his time managing the LSLEA. His duties include providing information about foreign workers and business sectors like forestry. He will also work with economic development officers in the region, as they are conduits of information for him. “It’s basically getting the alliance up and running, and (establishing) a presence on the web,” he says. Radstaak also says the LSLEA is developing tools to attract people and businesses to the region: the Promotional Investment and People Attraction Video and the Community Profile Magazine. The LSLEA is the newest of 14 regional economic development alliances in Alberta. It has an annual budget of $120,000, with $100,000 from the provincial government and the rest coming from members. Voting members are comprised of the Municipal Districts of Big Lakes, Slave River and Opportunity (newly formed in the Athabasca area); the Towns of High Prairie and Swan Hills; the Village of Kinuso; and the Peavine and Gift Lake Metis Settlements. The non-voting members are comprised of Northern Lakes College and Slave Lake Community Futures. Combined, the voting and non-voting members represent 16,000 residents. As for Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Radstaak does not have much to do with it currently. Its mission is to “Provide expert economic, financial and fiscal policy advice to government and effective tax and regulatory administration to enhance Alberta’s present and future prosperity.” This ministry has developed a business plan, setting a series of goals for 2008-2011 and Iris Evans is the minister. For more information about the economic alliance, contact Radstaak at 523-6698 or email at greg.radstaak@gov.ab.ca.

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