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Growth in the forecast

Suzy Burge is using her sunny television personality to help the Town of Lacombe smoothly transition into a city.
suzyburge
Suzy Burge is Lacombe’s new community and economic development manager.

Suzy Burge is using her sunny television personality to help the Town of Lacombe smoothly transition into a city.

The former weather forecaster — who spent five years working for the Red Deer TV station, which closed in August 2009 — has been working as the new community and economic development manager with the town for the past month.

“The goal of my job is to help facilitate future growth plans, both community orientated and business orientated, to strengthen what’s already here, to maximize on that and help to develop Lacombe into the city it’s going to be.” Burge said.

She said it’s an exciting time to take on this position — which sat empty for the past while as the job responsibilities were tweaked to incorporate a community focus — as council unanimously gave the go-ahead in late April to apply for city status.

That designation will likely become a reality in early September.

“There’s a lot of excitement by our local community, our businesses and residents, that somebody is sitting in the position at a time to take the reigns, along with our administrative staff and council, to really try and lay out what’s going to happen in the future,” Burge said.

“And to keep business going, that the Town of Lacombe is open for business and we want everyone to know that.”

The responsibility of her role is largely twofold.

Currently, she has been focusing on public consultations regarding the Heart of Lacombe growth strategy plan.

The first public workshop was held Wednesday to allow citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions on how the town should grow into a city.

“It’s a 20-year, 25-year plan to see what our soon-to-be city will look like as we move into the next 25 years,” Burge explained.

“We want to grow up not only at the heart but also at the edges. It’s growing up right.”

Her second responsibility is to connect with both local and potential businesses and investors.

Burge said her No. 1 priority, beyond the growth strategy plan, is to ensure local businesses are attended to and have access to the resources they need.

In addition to her 13-year history in the public eye as a television forecaster, Burge has also completed community economic development training through the Economic Developers of Alberta.

The courses — which are concerned with business investment, attraction, retention and expansion — are recognized by the University of Waterloo.

Burge said she is proud to be a resident of Lacombe, a community where she has owned a home with her husband for the past five years.

For more information about the Heart of Lacombe growth strategy plan, visit www.heartoflacombe.ca.

ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com