The City of Prince George's second crack at an economic development committee has come to fruition.
On Wednesday, the city announced a 17-member group to advise the new in-house operation, which includes representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Improvement Association, Lheidli T'enneh and Regional District, Tourism Prince George, College of New Caledonia, University of Northern B.C. and more.
The names appear to be a departure from the previous approach, which had a majority of private sector business leaders.
When the city announced in June it would shutter Initiatives Prince George and save up to $500,000 annually by running it with the city's team, it said a committee would advise the transition process.
That never materialized, with IPG board of directors resigning en masse.
Nominations for the new group closed Jan. 12 and the new members, which include five citizens, will each serve a two-year term.
"The Select Advisory Committee on Economic Development was created to strengthen communication and collaboration between the city and its partners, while advising Council on the creation of an economic development strategy for the City of Prince George," said Mayor Lyn Hall in the press release announcing the group.
The new department, operating under the auspices of planning and development, officially began at the end of September with the start of the city's new economic development manager Melissa Barcellos.
As Barcellos told the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors at its December meeting, her job right now - with the two employees already hired - is to continue with the programs IPG was running.
Hall will chair the new committee, which will have a report for council at the next meeting, Feb. 22.
"This important step represents the significant progress the city is making towards integrating economic development priorities and strategies with city operations and functions."
The committee holds its first meeting today at city hall and is made up of the following members:
Lyn Hall, Mayor of Prince George
Henry Reiser, president of the College of New Caledonia
Susan Stearns, general manager of Community Futures of Fraser-Fort George
Colleen van Mook, executive director of Downtown Business Improvement Association
Zishan Shah, community economic development manager, Lheidli T'enneh
Don Iwaskow, vice president of North Labour Council
John Gibson, president and CEO of Prince George Airport Authority
Christie Ray, CEO Prince George Chamber of Commerce
Scott Bone, CEO Prince George & BC North Construction Association
Jim Martin, CAO Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
Erica Hummel, CEO Tourism Prince George
Daniel Weeks, president, University of Northern B.C.
Mike Davis, Independent Contractors and Businesses Association
Sarbjit (Bobby) Deepak, labour lawyer
Rebecca Hasdell, new resident, formerly a policy development officer with the City of Toronto
Todd Molland, owner/operator, P.G. Rental
Robert Schuetz, president, Industrial Forestry Service
-- with files from Charelle Evelyn
