PORT HAWKESBURY: The Town of Port Hawkesbury is looking at the possibility of partnering with one of their neighbouring municipalities within the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network (CBREN) on the hiring of an economic development officer.
During the regular monthly town council meeting on January 7, councillors passed a motion to send a letter to their counterparts in Richmond County recommending the joint hiring of an economic development officer.
Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton said following the meeting, she believes it would be a beneficial service provided to both municipalities.
“We share a lot of synergies with Richmond County, so it seemed [like a] natural fit,” she said. “We’ve identified the interest here tonight, that we are interested in a shared economic development officer, so now the ball is essentially in the court of Richmond County.”
In order for this partnership to be successful between the two municipalities, Richmond County, who has already provided its notice of intent to leave the CBREN, would be required to make the decision to continue their affiliation with the REN.
Based on their geographical location, the Town of Port Hawkesbury joined the CBREN after making the difficult decision to withdraw from the now defunct Eastern Strait Regional Enterprise Network last year.