Preparing for growth
Development City looking at a great opportunity, says Benefits Blueprint's primary consultant
SAINT JOHN - Saint John is on the cutting edge of a new trend in building urban communities, says the man chosen to lead the way in preparing for the next phase of the Benefits Blueprint initiative.
"I think the future cities that are going to get the most attention are not based on population size but quality of life and sense of place," says Ross Jefferson.
"We've got a great opportunity to be a niche city that's a great place to live, have a family and still have economic opportunities for individuals and a depth of career opportunities that don't force you to go abroad."
Jefferson is leaving is leaving his position as general manager of the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership to become the primary consultant for Benefits Blueprint. In his new role, Jefferson will be responsible for driving the plan's agenda and leading the charge from Saint John's perspective.
He will start his new job by the end of the month.
His appointment was announced Wednesday by Energy Minister Jack Keir, the liaison person between the Benefits Blueprint team and the province.
The Benefits Blueprint lays out a detailed plan of how billions of dollars can be made if the province seizes opportunities presented by six huge energy-related industrial projects in the region.
The trick is to plan well in advance of rapid economic development that the committee expects will create 33,000 jobs provincewide, will mean up to $44 billion in spending and $14.2 billion in tax revenue over 10 years.
Jefferson's position is the first hiring of a staff person by the blueprint team and one that Jefferson is excited to fill.
"I really like this project because it looks at the idea of growth on so many levels, from the social level and business level. It is a holistic approach to preparing for our growth," said Jefferson.
"If we don't plan for our growth, we're going to have good outcomes, but if we really prepare for it, we have the opportunity to have great outcomes."
Jefferson's first order of business will be to get a governance model together. "There's a lot of co-ordination that's going to be involved in this. This project touches almost every (government) department.
"Each project and each opportunity needs to be seriously considered and looked at," he said.
To that end, Jefferson and a team of support staff will be working closely with representatives of government departments and community agencies who understand their programs, from health care to education.
"We're going to be working with them to help them understand the actual growth that's going to occur for the province and particularly for this region and help them implement programs to prepare them for the growth.
"It's also to help prepare the community for social challenges that might come from this growth."
Jefferson's long-time involvement in the community speaks volumes, says Keir.
"From the economic development point of view and from the waterfront point of view, he's got a good sense of where our community is and where we want to go and I think he's a perfect choice for this job.
"I know the type of individual he is. He's going to jump in with both feet, moving forward with our project and ensuring that we've got somebody pushing the recommendations."
Jefferson, 37, grew up in Saint John and has spent his career working in the city. A business graduate of the University of New Brunswick Saint John, he continued his studies in project management.
He worked on the refinery expansion program and then switched to the economic development side of things in 2000 when he went to Enterprise Saint John. From there, it was to waterfront development, where he has been for five years.
For Jefferson, economic development provides a sense of creating what will, hopefully, be a better city.
"Being so close to it, you think the same things we're seeing are seen outside our little bubble," he said. "But I think there are many who have seen the growth coming. You can see some of the investments that are now starting to take shape in the community. I'm very positive."
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