Summerland eliminates economic development position

Summerland has had a tough year with the closure of some of its biggest employers.

This past year, the Kettle Valley Dried Fruit Company, the Summerland tree nursery and the fruit packing house closed their doors.

And now, in the wake of losing 180 jobs in the community, council has eliminated the town’s economic development position.

Bruce Hallquist, Summerland City Councillor, says council is looking to take a different direction with economic development, likely something on a smaller and less costly scale.

“You can’t just have somebody churning out ideas and then not having the money and what not to put those ideas to fruition,” Hallquist said.

Hallquist says the town’s focus will now likely fall on business retention.

Lisa Jaager of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce could not agree more.

Jaager believes that Summerland should keep its focus on what it does best: tourism, agriculture and small “mom and pop” retail businesses.

She says if every business in town hired one person, it would bring hundreds of new jobs to the area and help Summerland grow from the inside out.

By eliminating the economic development department, the District of Summerland will save approximately $140,000 a year.