The search has begun for the right people to be part of Pictou County’s Regional Enterprise Network.
Robert Parker, warden for the Municipality of the County of Pictou, said a nominating committee has been established with representatives from all six municipal units who will seek out board members for RENS Pictou County.
He said the committee is currently looking for eight people not affiliated with any level of government but can offer a wide range of skill sets and business knowledge.
“It demands someone who has heart,” he said. “It is just not another board to sit on. It requires the right mix of directors and that search isn’t easy. Everyone is busy, but it is usually the busiest people we are looking for.”
Regional Enterprise Networks are designed to provide economic leadership and help develop regional economic strategies, while supporting small, local businesses. They were introduced in 2013 after the federal government cut funding to the 12 regional development agencies in the province.
The idea is to have a board of directors made up of private sector business people, with oversight by a committee of elected officials.
REN would cost between $300,000 and $350,000 to operate annually, with the six municipalities and the province each contributing half.
It’s based on a 50-50 funding formula that involves half of the $166,000 being split evenly between the six municipalities and the remaining half based on population.
Parker said the Pictou County nominating committee opted not to advertise the board positions publicly because it wants to encourage people with the right skills sets to be involved and not create any hard feelings among people not chosen. He said there needs to be certain balance in place in regard to gender, geography and business sector.
“We are looking for a bit of newness but it is not unlike building a hockey team. You need veterans too.”
There is an opportunity for the number of board positions to grow from eight to 12, but this will be done after the core group of directors is in place so they can decide what more needs to be done to improve the situation.
Parker said a CEO will be hired and its office location has yet to be determined. An oversight committee made up of political representatives will also be established that will make sure public money is going where it needs to go.
He said the inter-municipal agreement for RENS, which sets working guidelines for the board from the six municipal units, is also close to being approved. He hopes that RENS will be up and running in the next few months.
“The good news coming out of this is we are going to have again, not since PRDA has been dissolved, a group solely dedicated to improving existing businesses or new businesses,” Parker said. “All of the units are working together.”
