Angers Loire Métropole economic scheme aims at stir jobs (without growth?)

Bichon open air market

In its latest issue, "Métropole", the magazine of Angers Loire Métropole, the territorial authority gathering Angers and surroundings towns, dedicates six pages to the new "Sustainable economy and job director scheme 2013-2017". The document, passed on by the board of Alm in September, points out "an absolute priority : job creation". If the recent closure of Technicolor, an economic and social disaster, worries, understandably, the representatives of Alm, the contents of their plan (as they are described by "Métropole") do not clearly establish that growth  is an essential condition for job creation. So, it is not sure that the importance of the Techicolor closure has been appropriately considered as a turning point in the economic future of Angers.

In an Angers superstore on November 1st

One of the four goals of that scheme (which has put 150 millions € available for five years in order to create 10 000 new jobs) is to promote the development of "employment providing companies". Among the sectors quoted in that chapter, is the retailing trade. One of the key opening new opportunities for Angers store owners would be to let them open their business on Sundays before end of year holidays. But, unanimously, the towns members of Alm decided they will not allow store owners to open during that period. How these could hire employees if they are not allowed to work during the most high-growth Sundays of the year? That stance is beyond understanding while, at the same time, Angers city council favours the opening of temporary wooden stores in the streets and squares of down town (and rents, on ordinary Sundays, its exhibitions park for public or professionnal events).

It seems that the authors of the plan have the strongest will to preserve the life quality as an asset for present and future inhabitants of Angers Loire Métropole. Is that concern consistent with the present constraints (the changing work schedules) and wishes (to go for shopping on Sundays or no working days as regularly testified by crowd in superstores those days) of the city households? Angers desperately needs jobs, so growth. It's not sure growth will only come from empty stores in Angers during many days of the year as well as it's not sure that empty stores are a guarantee for quality of life for Alm inhabitants and visitors.