Chamber joins in four-laning lobbying, ONTC advocating. (North Bay).

It is just his first year as president of North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, but it has been a busy one for Dave Mendicino.

"We've got a lot on the go and we have had all year," he says.

Within a couple of weeks of taking over the position, they were knee-deep in trying to save the city's Ontario Hockey League team, the Centennials. They lost the team, but that is how the year started and it has been busy ever since, he says.

One of the areas the chamber has been centred on is the completion of four-laning on Highway 11. Highway 11 still has approximately 47 kilometres to be converted to four lanes, and every year the work is subject to ministry funding.

"We need that four-lane highway finished to keep the economy of North Bay up," Mendicino says. "We've got to keep a proactive role in lobbying the government so that work gets done."

With 916 members, Mendicino says the chamber is a huge voice in the community.

The chamber also has a lot to say regarding the sale of Ontario Northland. While the government has committed to having criteria for a would-be buyer that would see service and approximately 500 jobs maintained in North Bay, the chamber plans to continue to make sure the government honours its commitment.

Becoming one of the federal government's six pilot zones for tax incentives is also a goal for the Nipissing riding and one that is supported by the chamber. The pilot zone, which would see such incentives as relief for employee health taxes, property taxes and income taxes, would help retain existing businesses, he says.

Mendicino says the chamber has also been involved in airport development, and they are pleased that the city acted on the chamber's recommendation for the formation of an airport authority.

The authority will oversee the airport, the Air Base Property Corp. and another 30 acres of land that could be developed. Mendicino says the authority may be formed in the next three months and will include representation by the chamber of commerce.

"The airport is an enormous gold mine...the 10,000-plus-foot runway can handle almost any plane," Mendicino says. "The undeveloped land and the air base property that now has created 300 jobs will all benefit by being under the one authority."

The chamber also supports initiatives linked to tourism and is presently in the process of getting together with various partners to co-ordinate tourism marketing efforts. The aim is to ensure all available funding is accessed, he says.

North Bay is at an advantage because it is not dependent on any one industry.

"We never seem to have big highs and lows, and that helps when things get tough," he says.