Kenora city managers are huddling with consultants this month to map out a long-term plan of action to produce jobs and diversify the community's economy.
Paragon Decision Resources has prepared a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis for the city's economic diversification initiative aimed at creating and attracting new businesses.
The key components of the overall $190,000 study is to develop serviced industrial land, finish a market research study of Kenora's strengths and identify complementary business and industry opportunities and devise a marketing plan for the city.
The City of Kenora has committed $10,000 towards the project with the federal government chipping in $90,000. The heritage fund was expected to provide matching funds.
The project is a safeguarding measure to diversify the city's economy to withstand a devastating economic blow, such as the shutdown of the paper mill.
The initiative's goal is to create 1,000 new jobs in Kenora within 10 years. The new Trus-Joist Weyerhaeuser LumberStrand mill will produce 237 jobs. The city is working on developing two industrial parks and concentrating on attracting value-added forest industry and leisure equipment manufacturers.
