Economic Development Manager Shares Vision for Vegreville

Economic Development Manager Shares Vision for Vegreville

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Bab Bezpalko is a self proclaimed “information junkie” and the Town of Vegreville’s new economic development manager has been conducting a great deal of research and familiarizing himself with the community.

On Oct. 5 Bezpalko gave his first formal presentation and shared his vision during town council’s legislative committee meeting.

Bezpalko said he’s been working hand in hand with Town Manager Cliff Craig for the past six months and wanted to provide some key information as well as explain his own personal approach to economic development.

Bezpalko told council that he has been working in the field of economic development for close to 20 years and “grew up in this neck of the woods” having attended school in Derwent. He said he wished they, (teachers) knew what economic development was back then.

“My background is in advertising and promotion, and I spent years in radio and marketing, and that’s what economic development is, marketing. There’s a difference between selling and marketing. Selling is pushing the product in a very respectful way, but marketing is addressing the needs. And that’s where the focus is.”

Bezpalko openly admitted that, “I eat, breathe, and live economic development.” Innovation and embracing change are part of the town’s mission statement, and said that embodies the world we live in today.

He explained that economic development is a process of creating wealth in the community, which in turn provides a better quality of life for its residents.

“There’s product development and there’s product promotion. Product development, of course, is the Town of Vegreville. Marketing is like asking someone on a date and branding is the reason they say yes. So, that’s how I relate to it.

My approach is research based, strategy led, collaborative, and proactive. Economic development isn’t a separate dept. its woven through the fabric of the organization, and Vegreville is a great example of that.”

He spoke about “enabling Investment” and “retention and expansion.” So, “Whether we’re telling our story to someone in the UK or in Vegreville the information is the same.” He noted that business support, entrepreneurship, and community capacity building at the town and regional level all go hand in hand.

Bezpalko has met with various businesses since he started in the position. He said discussions are ongoing, and he’s learning where their needs, barriers and opportunities lie. “Again, information is critical, but it needs to get out to there.”

He went on to say that, “InnoTech is one of our strongest value propositions going.” InnoTech is a world class research and development facility which features a 13,000 sq. ft. processing pilot plant concentrating on decorticating hemp and flax fibres. “Within a 150,000 km radius, Vegreville has access to close to $6 million cultivated acres of feedstock which include: field peas, canola, wheat, oats and barley. Alternative crops include: hemp, faba beans, flax and other pulse crops.

Vegreville is ideally positioned as an agri-food based manufacturing facility and processing centre and options for future development with Prosperity Industrial Park. The 75th Street Business Park is well suited for light industrial development, and has fully serviced fibre connected lots up for sale.

One other very attractive feature Vegreville has is connectivity because it’s equipped with broadband internet with Telus which boasts 100 percent fibre optic connection. Bezpalko said Telus 5G is coming to Vegreville, and hopefully by 2024, according to a company official.

He pointed out that the regional airport is an underused facility. The airport is owned by the town and has been identified as an excellent location for a fixedwing flight school, helicopter training school, base for unmanned aerial vehicles as well as applied research and commercialization.

Other advantages are Vegreville’s access to markets as Highway 36 is a main north/south corridor connecting to US and Mexican markets. Highway 16 connects east-west to strategic west coast ports and Asian markets. The Edmonton International Airport is located 60 minutes away and major freight and courier services provide daily service.

Bezpalko will continue to share Vegreville’s story and continue to give people and entrepreneurs all of the reasons why they should call it home.