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Clarington unveils new 8-point development strategy

Clarington Council has adopted, in principle, a new Economic Development Strategy that it says will help guide the municipality as it plans for future growth and development.

The strategy is rooted in the objectives for economic development set out in Clarington’s Official Plan, recognizing the need to consider various key factors when planning community development and growth. Those factors include sustainable development, healthy communities, growth management and economic development – all working together to ensure that Clarington’s future success is properly planned and managed, said a council statement.

As set out in the Official Plan, Clarington’s focus is to encourage investment in the community and ensure more diverse employment opportunities, support small business retention in downtowns and promote and support arts, culture, and tourism.

Clarington is a rapidly growing community, and the Economic Development Strategy aims to balance that growth with the desire to maintain the rural charm and ‘small town’ feel that residents want to keep, said the statement.

The Economic Development Strategy spotlights some “major catalyst projects” that have the potential to drive and support Clarington’s long-term economic prosperity. The strategy outlines specific goals on how Clarington can support these key catalyst projects, including:

  1. Ontario Power Generation headquarters in Courtice,
  2. Courtice Waterfront and Energy Park Secondary Plan,
  3. The plans for the areas where the future GO Train Stations will be located in Bowmanville and Courtice,
  4. Broadband Infrastructure,
  5. Goodyear Site and Bowmanville Hospital Development,
  6. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park,
  7. Agricultural Diversification, and
  8. Tourism.

The strategy will also look at the need to expand the availability of serviced employment lands, enhance the development approval process, and develop a nuclear energy cluster of companies. Clarington Council has directed staff to advance these catalyst projects and prepare an implementation report to further the goals of the Economic Development Strategy to inform Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

For more information, read Staff Report CAO-005-22.

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