The new year will be one full of opportunity and challenges according to Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners.
She says the highlight of 2008 would be the opening of the new multi million dollar marine simulator at Georgian College.
Lovell Stanners says the addition of the ultra modern high tech training device will results in marine students from around the world coming to Owen Sound to complete their education.
She says the economic impact of that simulator will be felt in Owen Sound not only in the new year, but well into the future.
Lovell Stanners also wants to see more development of Owen Sound harbour in the new year, and to that end says the city is in the process of purchasing the historic old CPR building on the east side of the Harbour.
She says they now will be looking for interested parties to come forward with ideas and proposals on how best to incorporate the station into any future harbour development.
While there will be many opportunities in 2009, she also admits there will be many challenges facing the city as well as the economic crisis deepens.
She says as the city heads into budget talks they will have a responsibility to take into account the impact the economy is having on residents in the city and ensure that any tax increases are reasonable.
Mayor Lovel Stanners also is looking forward to the Federal Finance Ministers budget later this month and what infrastructure money will be made available to communities.
She says Owen Sound is prepared to go almost immediately with several infrastructure projects and just needs the funding from both the Provence and Ottawa to move forward on those.
