Municipal Monitor - May/June 2008 - (Page 20)

Aggressive Approach Bringing a big development to a municipality is not without its struggles. Sault Ste. Marie is developing new strategies to improve the city and expand its reputation beyond steel and lumber. Joe Fratesi, Chief Administrative Office for the City of Sault Ste. Marie remarks that the approach the city is taking to large-scale investment and growth is aggressive. “We’ve had trade missions to Italy, Portugal and Finland, which is some- Managing the expectations of private investors is crucial. © Eyemark/Dreamstime.com Teaming up with a proven energy company with a history of innovation and reliability can really make a difference.Whether you’re looking for wholesale energy strategies, demand reduction programs or strategic market initiatives, we can put our decades of experience to work for you. For great value, industry-leading technologies and unparalleled customer support, look to Integrys Energy Services of Canada. 90 SHEPPARD AVENUE EAST • 7TH FLOOR • TORONTO, ONTARIO M2N 6X3 • 416-221-5846 INTEGRYSENERGY.COM • TORONTO@INTEGRYSENERGY.COM thing new to us,” he says. Seeing what other towns and cities are doing can help bring inspiration and ideas. Since the ownership of Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie changed hands to an Indian company “we have become very conscious of new cultures and opportunities that come with new investment,” he adds. While large-scale investment projects may enhance a municipality with new interests, Fratesi notes that “there isn’t one clear model for private investment and it can take on many forms. Blending private and public investment is not as simple as first thought.” Last November’s announcement that Sault Ste. Marie was scrapping its Borealis project came as a surprise to some. The Borealis waterfront plan was inspired by the bio-domes and tropical rain forests of the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. The cancellation of the $54-million Borealis plan has launched a new search for a major tourism project on a 15-acre site. According to Fratesi, “Private investors weren’t able to meet some of the milestones so the project wasn’t able to continue.” Interests often collide between private and public development projects in smaller communities, “but with bigger catchment areas, it has worked.” Northern cities like Sault Ste. Marie want to take advantage of the funds available for cities north of Parry Sound through the Northern Ontario Heritage funding program. At present, $60 million is available for five northern municipal development projects that meet the various mandates of the program. The sum will grow to $140 million over the municipal 374023_Integrys.indd 1 20 · MONITOR 3/13/08 4:59:59 PM May/June 2008 http://www.integrysenergy.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Municipal Monitor - May/June 2008

Municipal Monitor - May/June 2008 Contents President's Message: On Messages and Milestones Viewpoint: Much Ado About Nothing? Again Mapping the North: Municipalities Team Up to Create Sophisticated Geographic Information System The Clean Water Act: Let's Make it Perfectly Clear Developing Trend: Communication is Essential During Large-Scale Projects Water Under the Bridge Municpal Memos Index to Advertisers

Municipal Monitor - May/June 2008

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