Initiatives Prince George has wrapped up operations and is no longer a tenant of the red First Avenue facility.
The city's new economic development function moved into city hall this week, taking up space on the first floor left vacant by a swap with the community partnerships division.
Meanwhile, eight staff members and community services general manager Rob Whitwham have moved out of city hall into the former IPG space on the upper level of the 1300 First Ave. site.
The city announced in June that it wouldn't renew the service agreement with IPG when it expired at the end of the year, preferring to bring the work in-house as a function of city hall.
Reasons for the change given by Mayor Lyn Hall included saving up to $500,000 and giving city council and staff more of a direct connection to the economic development process.
"Administration believes the city hall site is better suited for the economic development team and its needs, particularly with respect to fostering linkages between economic development and other administrative functions," said city spokesperson Michael Kellett.
The move was also made to increase collaboration between Tourism Prince George - which also operates out of the First Avenue site - and Community Partnerships.
Since coming on board Sept. 28, economic development manager Melissa Barcellos has been tasked with meeting with internal and external stakeholders about economic development projects and opportunities, transferring economic development information and assets to the city and hiring three positions, said Kellett.
According to the city website, the posted jobs of economic development officer, business development officer and project analyst are all in the interview stage.
Before taking the new position with the city, Barcellos was economic development officer at IPG. All remaining IPG staff have "completed their service," said Kellett.
CITY HALL CONSTRUCTION
In addition to personnel, there are also physical changes being completed at city hall.
Approximately $130,000 worth of renovations are currently underway on the fifth floor to create a "more efficient layout," as well as increase the number of offices by two and to redesign the reception area.
The renovations also include moving the fifth floor meeting and photocopy rooms and condensing storage space, said Kellett.
Further work will be done on the first floor to accommodate the new economic development work to add five new enclosed office spaces, at a cost of about $67,000.
The city's finance staff located on the third floor will also be moving to the first floor by the end of the year, joining the rest of the department.
More renovations will be completed at that point to construct three new enclosed office spaces, at a cost of approximately $50,000.
According to Kellett, the last time city hall underwent renovations of this kind was in 1999.
