Summerland will focus on its economy as a new council committee will be formed.
The committee was announced during an economic development forum which was held last week.
The committee will advise council on economic activities and strategies.
Mayor Janice Perrino said the committee is not intended to take the place of an economic development officer role.
Summerland eliminated the position of an economic development officer near the end of 2010.
Perrino said the community cannot afford a full-time economic officer but needs to have feedback on ideas being considered.
“We want to involve the community and to get different ideas,” she said.
Perrino said the meeting last week helped to clear some mistaken perceptions about Summerland.
“I was impressed with how we had some of our notions exploded,” she said. “What we thought was not necessarily true.”
She added that the community is doing better economically than it appears.
While downtown businesses have been suffering, those in the industrial areas have been doing well.
“We’re not doing badly in business generally,” she said, “Sixty-eight per cent of businesses are as well off or better than last year.”
There is interest in the new committee, which is to be formed within the next month. Perrino said she has already heard from some who are interested in serving on it.
Names and information must be submitted to municipal hall. Council will select those who will serve on the committee.
