Town's international experience part of county partnership proposal

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Stacey Roy

EMC News - A new partnership between the Town of Smiths Falls and Lanark County may extend the welcome mat for new citizens coming to this area in the future.

The partnership is now awaiting a response to their request for government funding that will elaborate on the town's successful www.immigratetosmithsfalls.ca website by offering the municipalities of Lanark County a similar platform.

John Gemmell, Lanark County warden confirmed in an email to The Record News that " . . . the County did send a letter supporting the initiative lending the County's name and logo."

Kim Leach, manager of economic development noted that county council formally ratified the partnership Dec. 14, which if provided with funding will create an independent immigration portal for Lanark County.

"We'll be doing a county face highlighting the different communities," Leach explained.

The county's hoped for portal will have a page for each municipality and will link into their existing community websites. Once the project's funding is approved, the first task will be to sit down with the county to discuss design possibilities with a focus on ensuring the immigration portal reflects the county's existing brand.

The proposed portal would borrow from the town's existing administrative and management systems and framework. The partnership is proposed to be in place for two years and will require one-and-a-half staff members to manage from the town.

Leach said the ultimate goal is to synergize all immigration settlement strategies with Smiths Falls, Lanark County and Renfrew County to shine a brighter light on the region.

"It's all about partnerships," she said.

The application for funding was submitted to the ministry for consideration Dec. 16, though staff aren't certain when they will hear a response.

Smiths Falls has been involved in immigration web portal work since the pilot project was launched in 2008.

"We're at the forefront," Leach said.

Currently, the town is one of 25 Ontario communities who participate in the program.

The town's web portal has several drop down menus (choosing Smiths Falls, Living in Smiths Falls, Working in Smiths Falls, education, settling in Canada). For those with specific needs a drop down menu to quick links is available to the left.

sroy@perfprint.ca