The Transition Advisory Team, appointed by the province of Nova Scotia after the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill, released its report today title Our Community Our Future.

Recommendations in the report include:

• two or three project managers hired to work on community priorities
• small business hubs to support new and home-based businesses
• better access to capital for small businesses
• more flexibility and simpler access to government support programs
• a research-development-demonstration site at the former Bowater mill property to develop and commercialize new value-added wood products, such as biofuels and engineered wood products.
• promotion of a community forest model
• work with the construction industry on the merits of wood and wood products in commercial construction
• work with farmers to identify new agricultural products and value-added businesses for their produce.

Premier Darrell Dexter responded to the report immediately, announcing the province will provide resources to hire two project officers.

The transition team, whose mandate was to engage residents in a discussion about the economic future of their community, heard from more than 500 residents, community and business leaders and youth over six months.

The team held two public forums, hosted two online surveys, visited local high and junior high schools and received more than 70 written submissions from community members.

A copy of the report, a full summary of the written submissions, surveys and ideas heard during the consultations are posted online at http://novascotia.ca/bowatertransition.