Population drop no surprise

Here in Shelburne County the population dropped by 4.2%, down by 687 people.

The census shows nearly half those people, 317, left from the Municipality of Barrington.

“We know we have a high outmigration here… we have known this in our hearts, we don’t need a piece of paper to tell us that,” says Frank Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the South West Shore Development Authority.

Anderson states the county has lost numerous skilled workers due to lack of work and the shellfish industry getting lower supply.

But he has not lost hope yet.

“They will come back,” states Anderson, “ if we can compete with the world and create a good and stable work force, the young people who have left will come home.”

In an attempt to fight to bring up the economy and keep people here the Regional Development Authority conducted a ‘swab analysis’ research study for the counties of Yarmouth, Shelburne and Clare in order to find the best foreign investment industry to locate here.

The study examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the communities in order to find out what industry would best suit the area.

Anderson says the answer from the study was to bring in more composite factories here, for fiberglass boats or moldings such as seen at Terry Hawkins Industries.

Although Anderson concedes the fishery will always be the biggest backbone for the community he advises the county needs more.

“If you’re going to stop outmigration you have to have industry.”

He briefly touched on the topic of a possible new company opening its doors in the county saying, “it looks like we are going to get a successful new operation in Shelburne County,” but would not elaborate on who.

As well as trying to lure new businesses into the county the Federal, Provincial and Regional governments are trying to help struggling businesses that are already here.

They are in the midst of an 18 month pilot program called the business retention expansion program that focuses on helping local business with problems they may have by going in, researching and coming up with solutions on a case by case basis.

“You always protect what you have as you bring in the new,” says Anderson.