<br> By Cathy Dobson, ;nbsp; from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theobserver.ca">www.theobserver.ca</a> ;nbsp; ;nbsp; The Observer<br><br> The gloom of an 11% unemployment rate in Sarnia-Lambton lifted somewhat Friday with news that a great deal is being done behind the scenes to create jobs.<br><br> And at least one sector is experiencing growth and hiring professionals locally, say economic development officials.<br><br> ;ldquo;I feel optimistic, ;rdquo; said George Mallay, general manager at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP).<br><br> His county-funded office has 11 staff committed to attracting new business and industry to the area.<br><br> ;ldquo;We have to serve both ends of the market, both skilled and semi-skilled jobs, ;rdquo; Mallay said.<br><br> He projects as many as 250 new businesses will open in Sarnia-Lambton by 2015, creating 400 jobs.<br><br> SLEP also expects to attract three new manufacturing plants in the next three years and to announce new tenants at the local research park.<br><br> There will also be new commercial ventures in the downtown core, related to the opening of the new public art gallery this year, said Mallay.<br><br> He released SLEP ;rsquo;s new three-year strategic plan at a breakfast attended by 160 community leaders at the Lambton Inn Friday.<br><br> Interest in the strategic plan ;rsquo;s release appeared to be heightened given the area ;rsquo;s recent economic challenges and job loss.<br><br> About 500 call centre and casino jobs are due to disappear within the coming weeks, with little on the horizon for unskilled or semi-skilled workers.<br><br> While efforts are underway to replace those jobs, Mallay said the picture is brighter at the other end of the hiring spectrum.<br><br> The city ;rsquo;s engineering sector is expanding and dozens of highly-skilled workers are being added to the local workforce.<br><br> ;ldquo;We will be hiring two dozen or more engineers and project management people in Sarnia, ;rdquo; confirmed Leslie Quinton, vice-president of global corporate communications for SNC Lavalin Inc. on Front Street North.<br><br> The new jobs are permanent positions needed for projects both in Sarnia and elsewhere, Quinton said.<br><br> ;ldquo;We expect to have modest growth between now and the end of the year. ;rdquo;<br><br> Other industry insiders say engineering firms in Sarnia are hiring permanent and contract positions this spring. Some jobs are being filled in anticipation of proposed Sarnia-based projects still to be confirmed.<br><br> WorleyParsons ;rsquo; Sarnia office recently advertised for about 40 long-term positions, including senior, intermediate and junior engineering and project management personnel.<br><br> ;ldquo;Not all the projects they are hiring for are in Sarnia, ;rdquo; Mallay said. ;ldquo;But the work will be done in Sarnia. ;rdquo;<br><br> Many projects are in Alberta but there ;rsquo;s a shortage of skilled professionals for hire there, he said.<br><br> ;ldquo;It ;rsquo;s easier to attract and retain them in Ontario. ;rdquo;<br><br> Mallay ;rsquo;s strategic plan had more good news, this time for small business, historically responsible for a lot of local job creation.<br><br> There are some 7,000 businesses with fewer than 19 employees, a number that has remained steady despite the city ;rsquo;s economic challenges.<br><br> Over the next three years, Mallay said SLEP intends to:<br><br> ;bull; focus on attracting food processing plants, like the Dr. Oetker pizza plant that just located in London;<br><br> ;bull; try to attract another call centre that could use the space vacated by NCO on Modeland Road;<br><br> ;bull; leverage existing Information Technology and data processing initiatives at Lambton College;<br><br> ;bull; keep its key focus on the chemistry industry, the potential of Marcellus shale gas, biobased plants and oil sands opportunities.<br>
