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Okotoks economic development manager moving on

The Town of Okotoks has begun looking for someone to take over the reins of its economic development team after outgoing manager Shane Olson announced he is leaving the position after 10 years.

The Town of Okotoks has begun looking for someone to take over the reins of its economic development team after outgoing manager Shane Olson announced he is leaving the position after 10 years.

From watching new companies open their doors in Okotoks seeing existing ones grow and take on new opportunities, Olson said helping the local business community is a passion.

“Seeing businesses succeed and helping them with advice, marketing advice, real estate advice, small business advice and referring them to our partners like the Chamber and Community Futures Highwood has been very rewarding,” said Shane Olson. “That’s why I get up in the morning.”

Olson announced last week he is resigning as the Town’s economic development manager effective Aug. 5. He is taking a position as manager of commercial development with Strathcona County outside Edmonton, starting Sept. 1. He will be responsible for tourism and all aspects of commercial development within the county.

Olson said it’s a good time to move to a new challenge because the Town of Okotoks recently completed a five-year economic development strategic plan and a new community brand.

With the recent hiring of a new Town Chief Administrative officer and planning manager, he said it’s good to bring new blood to the Town .

“There’s a new generation, so with myself moving on to this new opportunity people will bring in fresh ideas and fresh perspectives to the community and that’s good for Okotoks,” he said.

Olson worked as an economic development officer in Thunder Bay, Ont. for four-and-a-half years before starting with the Town of Okotoks in March 2006 as an economic development specialist.

Olson said Okotoks and its business community have grown significantly in the past decade. The town’s population was just over 17,000 in 2006.

“We’re one of Canada’s fastest growing municipalities over this last 10 years that I’ve been here and there’s been over 65 per cent population growth in that time,” he said. “When you look at it, we’ve had a 40 per cent increase in the businesses.”

The number of home-based businesses has more than doubled in the last 10 years from 300 when he started with the Town to more than 650 this year, said Olson.

Olson said a high point of his tenure with the Town was the opening of the Costco in the Southbank Business Park. He said it has resulted in a trickle-down effect with other businesses opening in the area and further development in the area.

Olson oversaw the expansion of the Okotoks Business Park around the Seaman Stadium and 32 Street area. Construction and sales of lots in the expanded business park began in 2010 and it’s now 60 per cent sold out, said Olson. He said 80 per cent of the buyers were existing Okotoks businesses moving to new, larger locations.

Olson said he has particularly enjoyed working with the Olde Towne Okotoks merchant group over the years.

Olson said the transition is coming at an important juncture for the Town, as Okotoks looks to annex land to expand its borders and secure a water supply for future development.

He hopes the Town is able to expand fibre optic access for businesses and bringing more post-secondary education and the Town recognizes the need to add more commercial and business development on the north side of the community.

“It’s really important to start building the blocks for growth when it does happen,” he said.

The Town will begin the process to hire a replacement for the economic development manager position. In the meantime, the Town’s economic development team will continue to handle questions and inquiries after Olson’s departure until a replacement has been hired.

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