Sunshine City open for business
E TERRI EGER
conomic Development agencies throughout the region are working hard to keep local communities growing and
thriving. The City of Medicine Hat, Invest Medicine Hat, Community Futures Entre- Corp and Palliser Economic Partnership continue to promote the local area as an attractive place to do business. With a low tax base, skilled labour force, assistance for businesses and a stable local government, Medicine Hat and surrounding area is an attractive place to do business.
Downtown The Place
To Be In Medicine Hat The downtown development strategy has had a positive impact on Medicine Hat.
“The City of Medicine Hat council has identified that economic development is important and in particular downtown redevelopment is a priority,” explained Keith Crush, business development officer for the City of Medicine Hat.
The project began in 2011 with grant funding made available to businesses with a focus on property development. While slow to start, Crush reported that the initiative took off in 2013/2014.
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“A total of $1.8 million was spent over four years,” he said. “It was very successful.”
While the money put into the program by
the local government is significant, Crush said the spinoff has been much higher.
“There has been between eight and 10 times that amount of money invested into the downtown by property owners themselves,” he said. “The city has put $1.8 million in through grant funding but property owners have invested between $9 and $11 million.”
The investment by the city and property owners bodes well for the community as a whole. Crush said a substantial amount of money is being put back into the economy in terms of employing contractors, engineers and labourers through the revitalization.
“We are encouraged by the fact that the program continues at the pace it does,” he said.
With the success of the program, council has committed to continue supporting the grant and has budgeted $200,000 in both 2015 and 2016.
As more and more buildings are renovated and repaired it gives the downtown core a rejuvenated feel, attracting members of the community and visitors from out of town to the heart of the city.
“People are taking pride in their property but more importantly there is renewed interest in downtown from the general public and from businesses,” he said. “It’s the ‘cool street’ to be on.”
Many improvements continue to be made by the city above and below ground. Lighting and sewer upgrades are among the projects that will be a focus for the
government in coming years to ensure infrastructure is in place to handle future development.
“While the economy is not as robust as it was, it’s not all bad either,” said Crush. “We have some positive indicators.”
He reported that a number of industries are looking into the potential of expansion in Medicine Hat.
“Billion dollar plants are being considered. That could mean three, four or 500 people working in construction and engineering for a couple of years with permanent employees after that,” he said. “We are optimistic.”
While the slowdown in the oil field has impacted the entire province, Crush said Medicine Hat is doing well over all. He attributes that success to the area’s diversity, naming agriculture as a major stabilizing force.
“The economy in Medicine Hat ebbs and flows but doesn’t boom and bust,” he said. “Medicine Hat has always done well.”
Invest Medicine Hat Targeting Potential
Businesses The cyclical nature of the economy has created challenges and opportunities in the local area.
“I think everyone in Alberta would agree that an over reliance on one sector is not ideal,” said Ryan Jackson, general manager of Invest Medicine Hat. Hired on a contract basis by the City of Medicine Hat, the
organization is looking at ways to expand the economy in other sectors.
The community of Medicine Hat is very attractive to businesses, according to Jackson.
“We have the lowest cost labour force and tax base in Western Canada,” he said.
Invest Medicine Hat has the ability to make connections between the public and private sector, creating a bridge for potential business growth. While inquiries from within the city and from external sources have come along in the past, the position of the city was to work on a reactive model. Through Invest Medicine Hat a more proactive approach is being taken.
“We are targeting specific areas that we can develop in the community,” explained Jackson.
Among the sectors being explored are agriculture, petro chemical manufacturing, professional services and craft breweries.
The agriculture sector continues to be strong and is a positive force in the local economy. Jackson explained that a number of value-added industries are being considered that could see the production of items such as salsa and preserves being created.
In terms of petro chemical manufacturing, Jackson reported that chemical plants are looking at ways to increase their business and Jackson is doing his part to draw them to the local area.
The people of Medicine Hat are also being looked at as an important resource when
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