NIAGARA FALLS – There it was in big, blue letters on a large projection screen for all to see: “Designing a blueprint for a stronger Niagara.”

That was the goal of the first Niagara Economic Summit Wednesday at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, and the people behind the event say in the coming weeks that blueprint will become clear.

More than 400 people attended the day-long event with speeches and discussions by top business leaders.

Walter Sendzik, the CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event, said a clear focus had emerged.

“The move forward is making sure everyone leaves here with the sense that they have to do something,” Sendzik said.

Exactly what that something is has yet to be determined, but he said there are specific areas that need to be addressed. First, he said, Niagara needs to accept that the manufacturing sector now means more than just producing auto parts. “We need a good production strategy,” he said.

Secondly, there needs to be an education strategy to insure students coming out of Niagara’s schools have the skills needed by employers in Niagara. Finally, Sendzik said a population growth strategy is needed to help bring more people to the region.

“I think we lost our way compared to a Kitchener or a Guelph because they put concrete plans in place that advanced the business agenda,” he said.

Wade Stayzer, the Niagara Economic Summit chair, said the event is the first step in Niagara coming up with its own concrete plan.

“We understand if it’s going to be successful, we have to act,” he said. “This is the first summit, but the regeneration of Niagara is a 10-year process. Look at this as ground zero. It’s the first step.”

Whatever the action plan ends up looking like, it needs to be of value to all Niagara businesses, regardless of their size or industry, Sendzik said.

“This is not about picking one sector and saying, ‘That’s what we’re going to get behind.’ It’s about fostering the business environment that creates growth across the board.”

Source: St. Catharines Standard