Nanton Mayor Rick Everett says he wants to see prosperity in his neighbours as well as in his own Town, simply because what benefits one, benefits the others.

To that end the the Town of Nanton is lending hand to a planned conference of Southwestern Alberta communities this Fall.

He's hoping it turns into an annual event.

"If we can get it started here, perhaps my fellow Mayors in Claresholm and Fort MacLeod will continue years after that and we can keep this as an annual event about, how do we build our whole MD? How do we build Alberta's Southwest? How do we build this whole Province and make this thing work?"

Nanton Mayor Rick Everett is bullish about his Town and the region's economic future, but says other factors need to keep pace or it won't mean much.

Everett says the conference scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 at the Bomber Command Museum will focus on "Community Economic Development."

He says economic growth is one thing, but if things like recreation, arts, housing and social programs are left behind, you can have all the economy you want, it won't work in the long run.