Apsley Voice - Page 11

By: Lannie Reynolds

The starting point to a healthy community is economic prosperity & sustainability. Community Economic Development (CED) works to create this prosperity & sustainability using the resources, talents & skills found within the community itself. Monthly CED meetings began October 2002, in partnership with the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPAEDC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, concerned members of the community have had the opportunity to meet, network with local business and organizations, provide input and participate in:

Assessing the communities economic conditions and challenges,
Facilitating of linkages between individuals & organizations,
Determining priorities & setting social & economic goals,
Taking action within the community to achieve success.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend these CED meetings, usually held the third Thursday of each month from 7 to 9:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Community Development involves community members developing a sense of common visions & priorities that will to help establish the appropriate actions to be taken.

Topics discussed during these meetings have included:
- Public Washrooms,
- Business Development Opportunities,
- Medical Centre,
- Education,
- Community Web Portal,
- Water/sewage regulations,
- Hospitality & Tourism,
- Business Retention & Expansion.

Some success achieved from these CED meetings include: 20,000 copies printed of the Apsley & Area Naturally in the North Kawarthas, Tourism & Business brochure. This was completed in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce.SuperHost Training is a program that focuses on the needs & wants of our customers, as professionalism is an essential ingredient to any successful service oriented business. This course is being held April 24th from 9am to 4pm in the North Kawartha Council Chambers. For more information contact Gord Mackey at (613) 332-1513.

Katie Jackson Lannie Renyolds Michel Andres (COIN)

The LOO Committee proposed to construct direct access into the community centre’s washrooms from the outside. This idea was presented to Council, and approval of the plan was received, with construction beginning soon. Volunteers to monitor the washroom during peak hours are needed to make this action a success. Kawartha North Innovations for Tomorrow (KNIT) is a not-for-profit organization with a history of success. KNIT’s first actions as an organization were to lobby against long distance charges to Peterborough and to provide Internet access to the community. Today those long distance charges are a thing of the past and the North Kawartha Lifelong Learning Centre has 10 computers that offer wireless High Speed Internet to the community. KNIT is continually looking for solutions to our local broadband problems, along with other social and economic initiatives. KNIT is always on the lookout for new members, the next meeting is Wed, April 7th at 9:30 am in the North Kawartha Library on Burleigh Street in Apsley.

Community Skills Inventory Project (CSIP)

Identify how community assets can address community needs,
Connect people to programs and services, or financing to help them increase employability and income,
Enhance how our community approaches human resources development.

YOU CAN HELP, by volunteering to participate in the survey and by promoting this project in North Kawartha.

CREATING OPPORTUNITY….

….IN OUR COMMUNITY

For more information on the CSIP Survey, contact Katie Jackson or Lannie Reynolds at the North Kawartha Lifelong Learning Centre at (705) 656-4958 or see the CSIP advertisement at the top of this page.