Several municipalities in Southwestern Manitoba took steps in 2021 to try and work more closely together especially in the area of economic development.

Melita, Brenda-Waskada and Two Borders are all part of the Melita and Area Economic Development Corporation.

EDO Eric Forster calls 2021 a year of reflecting and looking inward at what the region has and what it can offer to attract growth, development and people.

“The way things went this past year with the pandemic I’d still say it was a pretty good year. We had a chance to asses how the region can get better in the future.”

Forster says working as a region is a much better way of doing business.

“Everybody wants to see a big business come to the region and bring hundreds of people and if that happens great. However even if we can help local start a business or get people from outside the region to move here that’s a benefit.”

Up next in the process for the new economic group is updating by-laws, rules and responsibilities.