Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack is urging entrepreneurs to keep in touch so the city can offer as much help as possible. "We want to know what you're working on, because even if we're not the person who will ultimately solve the problem, we want to know what you're doing so that we can make sure we're communicating those stories," Knack said at a meet-and-greet with entrepreneurs at Edmonton Unlimited on March 11.
Knack said city council identified four strategic priorities in its first few months, one of which is economic development. "We want to support businesses as they're starting and as they're growing, and we know that we have a great opportunity to be active partners with you," he said. "At the same time, we know that we need you to help build out our city and to turn it into what we need it to be." He asked attendees to identify the top one or two things that the community needs from the city to succeed. He encouraged entrepreneurs to reach out to Robyn Taylor, the economic development policy advisor in his office.
Meanwhile, Edmonton's city administration is working on identifying a viable pathway for the next phase of the Edmonton Edge Fund and exploring how to fund future phases, ideally with reduced dependence on the city's budget. Administration is also working on a report about Edmonton's economic development agencies, including Edmonton Global, Edmonton Screen, Explore Edmonton, and Edmonton Unlimited. It is expected to be presented to council in April.