Over $52 million in construction in Moosomin
March 18, 2024, 11:02 am
Ashley Bochek
Moosomin is in the midst of a building boom and has more construction under way right now that ever before. Moosomin currently has $52 million worth of construction under way.
Casey McCormac, Economic Development Officer (EDO), explains what she sees as the factors that led to the current boom, and what she sees for the future.
What is your role in helping the future development here in Moosomin?
I work helping bring people into Moosomin and bringing different businesses. We identify needs that Moosomin is looking for and what people are looking for and from there we will reach out to the companies.
We have helped with the Ukrainian immigrants, we help bring people and families into Moosomin, we work with people wanting to bring in new businesses, and we try to grow the community.
Do people come to you with what they think Moosomin needs?
I have sent surveys out in the past. We have sent surveys out to business owners to see what they believe Moosomin needs. I have had people call me, email me, come to the Town Office and state what they think we need. For example, one time it was a plumber, or whatever they believe is not being met in Moosomin. Another example is the Visual Arts Centre. The idea came from a response to a survey I sent out, and now it’s a reality.
Right now Moosomin has over $52 million worth of construction under way. How did we get to this point?
I think it is the support from the community and people believing in Moosomin and knowing that it is a growing community and that it is a community that people want to be a part of.
Why do you think more development has been happening in Moosomin over the past 5 years? What makes the difference here in Moosomin?
I think a lot of it is the realization by the town, the RM, and the CBA, that they wanted to invest in economic development. They wanted to push to grow the community and meet the needs of the people who live here. I think that collaboration between them and with the focus on economic development in my job, helps with that.
Do you think this is a temporary boom or development will just build from here?
I think it will just continue to build. I know there is a lot of stuff on the go that will happen in the next five to ten years. I think we’re just getting started. I think it will just continue to grow and grow.
How do you compare development here in Moosomin to other communities. Is there a way to compare that $52 million dollar figure?
I looked at different big cities to compare the value of building permits in other cities compared to us and then we divide that number by the amount of people in the community. We have our figure at about $17,500 per person in Moosomin for construction whereas if we look at in Regina it is only around $2,000 per person or Toronto is $8,000 per person. You can see that we are truly growing at a rate that is way bigger than anywhere else.
Why do you think that is?
I think it is because of our community and the support of the people. Part of it is the appeal of small town living. People want to be part of the small town and a lot of it to is cost of living. Living in a big city is way more expensive and people want to be part of that small town feel.
Could Moosomin’s success with development be replicated in other places?
I think so. A lot of it has to do with the collaboration and like-minded entrepreneurial people. If you can get that mindset somewhere else, I think it is absolutely possible to be replicated somewhere else.
Are there more plans for Moosomin development?
Yes. There will definitely be some more development. I can’t really talk about yet, but there is definitely more coming up! There’s a lot more development coming!
