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Strategy B6: Promote and expand agribusiness.
Details: The City should explore and promote niche or value added products or services that can be developed by the local agriculture industry. Red Deer can consult with representatives from the industry as well as collaborate with educational institutions such as Red Deer College and Olds College as well as other Alberta universities to identify niche agricultural products. Impetus: Another locational benefit enjoyed by Red Deer is that it is proximate to centers of agricultural expertise and abundant cropland. Red Deer could leverage these strengths to facilitate the growth of new agribusiness ventures. Similar to green technologies, the products of agribusiness may be exportable to a larger market. Suggested Actions: 1. Develop business cases and assess the viability of growing early stage agribusiness firms (perhaps with the assistance of faculty at the Universities of Calgary and Edmonton, Red Deer College and Olds College, as well as Olymel and Permolex). 2. Interview individuals knowledgeable of agribusiness on what cities like Red Deer can do to create an environment conducive to growing or attracting such business. 3. Review policies and available incentives to see where there is a match between what Red Deer can offer and what such companies are looking for. 4. Advertise and/or generate visibility for what Red Deer can offer in venues likely to be seen by decision makers from those industries (such as entrepreneurial events, start-up events, trade shows, industry publications, etc.). Monitor impact of activities and reevaluate annually. Success Measures: Number of new jobs added in the agriculture sector. Strategic Partners: Red Deer College; Olds College; Univ. of Alberta; Univ. of Calgary; Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development; Red Deer County; Chamber of Commerce; Westerner Park Estimated Average Annual Cost: $18,000 Priority: TBD (High/Medium/Low) Task Implementation Strategy B6 Action Item 1 Action Item 2 Action Item 3 Action Item 4
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