Business sector seeks ways to capitalize on city shipyard win

Keith Corcoran, SouthShoreNow.ca (10/26/11)

 Lunenburg County business leaders are seeking ways to capitalize on positive byproducts from Halifax's Irving-owned shipyard securing a multi-billion dollar shipbuilding contract.

 Bridgewater Development Association manager Ida Scott forecasts a potential boost in the local housing market. The shipyard's $25 billion deal announced October 19 translates to the creation of thousands of jobs, so these workers are going to need places to live.

 "Bridgewater has continued to increase housing units from condos, duplexes, single-family homes and apartments and new construction continues daily," Ms Scott said, noting workers could be attracted to this area's lifestyle and relatively short commute.

 "I estimate that Lunenburg County will see approximately 150 new homes constructed over the life of the project, and an average of 100 Lunenburg County people will obtain employment each year as a result of this project."

 Ms Scott sees more advantages.

 "The next opportunity I see is the one for like businesses to form consortiums in order to take advantage of shipbuilding project components such as sheet metal fabrication, electrical and boatbuilding skills," she noted.

 "Businesses providing complimentary services can also form consortiums to bid on services to the Irving shipyard. There is an opportunity for Nova Scotia Community College to offer applicable programs to prepare people to work in the various fields of shipbuilding."

 Craig Collins, principal of the community college's campus in Bridgewater, said the school works closely with industry partners to address their needs for skilled workers. He said the college overall has been closely involved in the Irving shipyard bid and the college is ready to respond.

 "An example is the response of the college to the health-care industry," he said.

 "The college responded to industry's call for more health professionals by increasing the number of seats in the practical nursing and continuing care programs offered at a number of campuses including Lunenburg. The announcement on October 19 is no different."

 Andrew Button, executive director of the Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency, predicts the contract's impact in rural Nova Scotia will be huge. His agency is already working on strategies, such as business asset mapping and a commercial and industrial real estate project pertaining to land that can be developed, to benefit from the shipyard contract. Mr. Button added the county could be well positioned for spinoff if the Irving-operated shipyard in Shelburne is utilized.

 "I mean if you think about it we're sort of in the shipbuilding corridor," he said.

 "There's a lot of work that's going to be happening in Halifax but there's also potentially a lot of work that could be moved to the Shelburne location."

 Ms Scott said local resources should be researching this opportunity.

 "Lunenburg County needs to pull together to explore all potential and then work toward achieving as much spinoff as is possible from this shipbuilding contract," she added.