WELLINGTON COUNTY – Mapleton is enlisting Minto’s economic development team in a consulting partnership to enhance community revitalization.
Manny Baron, Mapleton’s CAO, said to council that Minto has a successful economic development team that could be useful to take Mapleton to the next level.
“Minto has done a fabulous job with their economic development,” Baron said to council. “We have an opportunity to leverage that and help guide us and try to better ourselves.”
Minto’s economic development team has seen success with their downtown revitalization projects such as Harriston Rising, Clifford Connects and All Aboard Palmerston. These projects have been focused on beautification, community development and events in Minto’s urban centres.
Belinda Wick-Graham, Minto economic development manager, and Taylor Keunen, Minto marketing and community development coordinator, were recently featured on Doug Griffith’s podcast Community Revival to discuss the success of these efforts.
Wick-Graham said at Minto's council meeting that the economic development team will be able to provide support and guidance to Mapleton which could lead to a previously planned official partnership among the North Wellington municipalities.
Baron said it’s important to bring back a full-time economic development employee to the growing township.
“With all the good things happening in our town, I think it’s time to reintroduce an economic development person,” Baron said to council.
The Town of Minto will be compensated for some of their services at $68.40 per hour. This is for any direct consultation work done with the new employee.
“If approved and we first start, we’re going to need some one-on-one time with their team,” Baron said to council.
However, Baron said this could balance out if Minto ever needs time from their staff as these kind of partnerships are happening more frequently among the northern county municipalities.
Minto and Mapleton have partnered on a youth services hub in Palmerston and Minto shares fire administration and a drainage superintendent with Wellington North.
These are a result of a KPMG survey looking for efficiencies and cost savings for municipalities with shared services being among this. During the pandemic, the three townships were able to bring in guest speakers for webinars to advise local businesses.
Wick-Graham said to council they normally wouldn't be able to afford some speakers on their own but could when shared with other municipalities.
Mapleton council unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding.
