A familiar face will now be overseeing all things economic development in the Norfolk Treherne area.

Portage la Prairie's Pam Lotun assumed the role of economic development officer earlier this month with Norfolk Treherne Community Development Corporation.

Located in the town of Treherne, the organization’s purpose is to promote and develop the area’s human and natural resources in order to sustain and enhance the economic and social well-being of the area’s residents.

"Overall, it's to develop the human and natural resources that the community and area has to offer," Lotun says regarding her new role. "I'm working with city council, chamber of commerce and other local organizations and we'll be doing projects and stuff like that."

Lotun says she was inspired to enter the field of economic development after working closely with Portage Regional Economic Development (PRED)'s former EDO, Vern May, during her time at the helm of the Central Plains United Way.

"I just absolutely loved seeing the life and excitement that he brought to the community. He was instrumental in a lot of investments in the community that are going to enrich the lives of Portagers for years to come. So that was definitely something I wanted to be a part of," notes Lotun. "I'm just really excited to be in this role and I'm looking forward to working with all the various stakeholders."

Lotun adds that her time with the United Way and her involvement with the community offered her a glimpse into the final stages of economic development, and is looking forward to a more all-encompassing position within the industry.

"That's after the businesses are here and established and the community sees the trickle down benefits of that," Lotun says of the relationship between non-profit work and economic development. "So this is kind of up front, in the room with those important talks and being able to make the community better from a different perspective."