JEDI Connector - Joint Economic Development Initiative

Connector
Connecting and Promoting The JEDI Economic Region
Issue 2 • Winter 2013
UPCOMING EVENT
FOR EMPLOYERS
The Business Link:
Small Business Learning Sessions
JEDI in partnership with the Community Learning Council for
Wetaskiwin & Area (WCLC) remains committed to providing the
region access to an unlimited amount of videoconferencing (VC) and
webinar content including access to curriculum offered by the
Business Link and their series of Small Business Learning Sessions.
There are a variety of sessions available to help start or grow their
business from:
- Business Start-up
- Project Management
- Exporting & Importing
- Social Media/Using the Web
- Finance & Money Matters
- Taxation
- Growing Yours Business
- Innovation
- Marketing and Sales
- Market Research
Labour Force
Development Forum:
Recruiting Immigrant
Workers
April 17, 2013
- Do’s and Don’ts
- Best Practices of
Recruiting and Hiring
- Successful Integration
into the Workplace
Hosted by:
JEDI
In Collaboration with:
Other Service Providers and the
Private Sector
For more information contact
JEDI at 780-361-6332
For more information about the Business Link, Small Business
Learning Sessions and what will be offered during the Winter 2013
Learning Sessions visit www.canadabusiness.ab.ca. Any of the
workshops can be delivered locally, just notify the WCLC 5
days in advance at 780-361-6241 / 780-352-3137 or
visit www.clcwetaskiwin.ca.
JEDI Connector
Joint Economic Development Initiative
PO Box 6357, Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 2G1
780-361-6231
[email protected]
TOWN OF MILLET
Are Entrepreneurs
Born or Made?
by Edie Spagrud, JEDI
Here’s the story of Joe Anderson, born and
raised in the Millet area of central Alberta.
Joe has a lifetime of work and entrepreneurial
experience that has led him to his current
venture in housing. Joe started his career as a
journeyman mechanic in the oilpatch and then
began farming. He added another business
opportunity to his list when he went into
partnership with his brother-in-law, Morley
Moonen, in a business called MoJo Automotive
Ltd. which specialized in parts, auto and tractor
repairs as well as garden equipment. While still
operating MoJo, Joe purchased the Gulf
Service Station in Millet. During this time Joe
maintained an active volunteer life including
work with the Millet Fire Department (which he
has done for 40 years), coaching baseball,
serving as a member and president of the
Chamber of Commerce, and entertainment
chairperson for the Millet Legion. Joe has also
been actively involved in the Millet Lions Club.
2
By 1988, Joe began looking around for other
business opportunities when he saw dramatic
changes coming in the automotive service
sector. He rented out the farm, purchased
highway commercial land and built the Petro
Can Service Station/Convenience Store at the
intersection of Highway 616 and Highway 2A in
Millet. MoJo Automotive liquidated its stock of
parts and the business was sold in 2000.
In 1992, Joe Anderson found his niche in the
housing industry. He started out doing home
renovations and in 1992 started building
houses under the name of “J. Anderson
Custom Homes Ltd.” At first, J. Anderson
Custom Homes Ltd. built new homes for
Caldwell Banker. Within a few short years,
however, Joe had become well known as a very
reputable builder in the Millet area. He began
working directly with property owners to custom
build their dream home. Since then, Joe has
built many houses in Millet as well as
commercial buildings, shops, garages and
apartments. Also, he has been involved in
several construction projects in Devon, Leduc,
Wetaskiwin and Camrose.
Because of the
demand for his work, Joe says, “We get all the
house building contracts we can handle within
an approximate radius of 30 – 40 km around
Millet”. Joe’s wife, Bev, is the Office Manager
for J. Anderson Custom Homes Ltd. The
company employs 3 – 6 full time employees
and many sub-contractors. Joe has aspirations
to try other projects in the building industry and
continues to be one of Millet’s staunchest
supporters.
So what do you think? Are entrepreneurs born
or made?
“We get all the house building contracts
we can handle within an approximate
radius of 30-40 km around Millet”.
- Joe Anderson
Community Spirit is
Alive in Millet
On December 10, 2012, the Canadian Pacific
Holiday Train arrived in Millet. The train was
met by over 2000 people from Millet and the
surrounding area. A challenge was given out
to “Stuff the Lion’s Bus” with food for the Millet
Food Bank. That challenge was met with the
generosity of people from Millet and area. Not
only was the bus “stuffed” with food, but over
$5,400.00 was raised for the Millet Food Bank.
Town of Millet
Capital Improvements
Millet Tourism Committee
Receives Recognition
for Their Efforts
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
Town of Millet
Town of Millet
2009
2010
2011
2,376,000
150,000
820,000
2012
2,667,000
In 2012, the Town of Millet invested in water
valve replacements, new sewer lift station,
water main extension, repaving 2 streets
and began engineering for the
regional water line.
Senior Activities in Millet
• Senior bus trips to interesting places
throughout Alberta
• Potluck lunch (noon) and games
takes place at the Millet Legion on the
4th Wednesday of each month.
• Floor curling and coffee at the Millet
Community Hall, 1 pm every Monday
afternoon
• Afternoon crib games, Millet Legion,
1 pm, 2nd Tuesday of every month
For information about senior
activities in Millet, contact
780-387-4631
On November 10, 2012, recognition of the drive
and tenacity of the Millet Tourism Committee
was acknowledged during the Millet Community
Awards Night.
The Millet Tourism Committee’s marketing
initiatives have included a new town brochure,
map, website, adverting, tradeshow and
Familiarization Tour of the local area.
Through the work of this committee, Millet is the
first municipality to receive the ‘Recommended
Experience’ recognition from the Edmonton
Countryside Recommended Business Program.
Did You Know?
The first Millet hotel was built in 1902;
burned down in 1995 (check out the mural
on the Apple Drug Store building).
– Trivia courtesy of the Millet Museum
3
COUNTY OF WETASKIWIN
Backstreet Doesn’t
Take a Back Seat
to Anyone
Did You
Know?
by Edie Spagrud, JEDI
Pigeon Lake
was once
known as
Woodpecker
Lake (from the
Cree
Hmi-hmoo) but
by 1858 was
known as
Pigeon Lake,
reflecting the
huge flocks of
passenger
pigeons
occupying the
region in the
mid-1800’s.
4
“I really enjoy being an
entrepreneur and employing
family members in the store.”
- Maureen Tabler
This well known business along
Highway 13 at Westerose (County of
Wetaskiwin) is owned and operated
by two enterprising ladies, Elona
Bonnett and Maureen Tabler. These
gals went into business together in the
early 90’s.
Maureen says, “It all
started with selling crafts out of the
basement of my home”. By 1998, the
business had evolved into a storefront
location at Westerose with a diverse line
of retail items, including antiques. Being
adventuresome, Elona and Maureen
looked to overseas opportunities for
acquiring antiques. They purchased their
first forty foot container load of antiques
from a band of gypsies in Hungary! After
experimenting with several supply sources
over the past ten years, most antiques are
now purchased for Backstreet Antiques
through a ‘picker’ in England and shipped in
large containers to Alberta.
After years’ of experience, the owners of
Backstreet Antiques have developed a knack
for finding the type of antiques commonly in
demand by their customers. Many of their
clients are frequent shoppers, either in person
or via the Internet….. especially when the store
owners notify them about the arrival of a new
shipment of antiques. It is not uncommon for
the store to have over two hundred visitors in a
day on weekends during the summer – these
people are amazed to find such a wide array of
antiques, new furniture, home décor items,
giftware, jewelry, ladies’ handbags, humorous
novelty items and much more. Many say, “We
have never been in a store like this – and
especially not one out in the countryside”.
Maureen says, “I really enjoy being an
entrepreneur and employing family members
in the store”. Although Elona loves to chat and
share ideas with customers, for her, the most
rewarding aspect of operating the business is
the excitement of finding unique merchandise
for the store.
Whether a local resident or visitor to the area,
you don’t have to be a treasure hunter to find
many ‘hidden gems’ like Backstreet Antiques
among the beautiful trees, valleys, lakes and
open vistas within the County of Wetaskiwin.
Elona Bonnett and Maureen Tabler
20 New Businesses in the County of Wetaskiwin (2012)
• Brantom Data Logistics Inc. (consulting services in the Millet area)
• Falun Bottle Depot (bottle depot business in the Falun area)
• Lauron’s Restaurant/Wooden Horse Cafe and Bar (a restaurant, bar and motel in the Buck Lake area)
• West Valley Sales (Recreation vehicle sales in the Winfield area)
• Mobile Concession (Falun area)
• Catering and Café (Alder Flats area)
• Recovery Reno’s (home renovation business in the Westerose area)
• Pappa’s Cookhouse (restaurant and lounge,Village at Pigeon Lake)
• Revisions Home Improvements (home renovation and repair business in the Millet area)
• Simply Bold Artistic Design (fine art business in the Millet area)
• Just Too Sharp (nail salon in the Winfield area)
• XSPEC QA Ltd. (welding inspection businesses in the
County of Wetaskiwin
Wetaskiwin area)
Investment in Infrastructure Development & Maintenance
• General Waste Solutions (waste removal business in the
Wetaskiwin area)
2012
• Positive Affirmations & Fun Stuff Artwork Co (an art
2011
business in the Buick Lake)
• Monique’s Massage Therapy (Millet area)
2010
• Reid’s Automotive Services (a tire repair business in the
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
Millet area)
2010
2011
2012
• Charli’s Café (Millet area)
County of Wetaskiwin
9,683,396
12,022,186
14,702,490
• Physixel Design (a graphic design business in the
The County of Wetaskiwin has demonstrated a consistent
Wetaskiwin area)
commitment to develop and maintain the roads, water,
• Grand View Lock Shop (locksmith business in the
sewer and bridges necessary to support residential and
business development throughout the County.
Westerose area)
• Grass Barber Lawn Maintenance (lawn
maintenance business in the
Mulhurst Bay area)
Connector Profile
David Blades
David started as planner with the County of Wetaskiwin on January 6th, 2003. He
has a wide range of responsibilities including long range planning, design review
for development, addressing public inquiries for land use and
reviewing/recommending land use proposals.
General trends in development within the County of Wetaskiwin include developers
studying at current markets and pursuing a quick turn around on investment.
Although development activity in 2008 was very robust due to the thriving provincial
economy, in 2012 development has been steady; however, as Alberta’s economy
picks up, there will be a greater demand for land development within the County.
Currently, the types of development most prevalent in the County include:
• Single family country residential and lake shore development
• Rural commercial, including ‘clustering’ of commercial businesses such as
the lumber distribution center west of Highway #13 at the intersection of
Highway #771
Director of Planning &
Economic Development
5
CITY OF WETASKIWIN
New Businesses in the City of Wetaskiwin (2012)
*At the end of December, there were 38 new businesses operating in the City of Wetaskiwin!
• Agape-Hair
• Asian Curry House
• Big Bite
• Bowen Body Therapy
• BuffDogs
• Cameo Nails
• Country Concession
• Dalton’s Donair & Rice Bowls
• Emcee Kennels
• En Route Fitness
• Esso Automile & Car Wash
• Flatlanders
• Floors Now
• Floors Plus
• Healing Hands Massage
• Heaven’s Earth Therapeutic
• Massage Clinic
• Susie’s Cleaning
• Irene His & Hers
• Sweetly Twisted
• J.D.L. Mobile Repairs
• Tracey’s Bridal
• L.Bailer Psychological Services
• The Country Touch
• Lawn N Garden
• Tranquility Spa
• Lovely Ladies Luxuries
• Urban FX
• Nails & Ladders Roofing
• Wetaskiwin City Cabs
• QJ Nails
• Q.T. Renovations
• Quick Moves Concrete Pumping
• R & M Janitorial Services
• Sandyland Power Equipment Ltd.
• Schram Crane & Rigging
• Shining Stars Occupational Therapy for Children
• Shirley’s Travel
• Silk and Chrome Hair Studio
Did You Know?
Wetaskiwin was first
incorporated as a village
in 1899.
6
Wetaskiwin Regional
Aquatic & Fitness
Centre Getting Closer
to Completion
On time.
And within budget.
That’s the message City of Wetaskiwin Manager Ted
Gillespie conveyed to council at its final meeting of
2012, held Dec. 10th at City Hall.
“The project budget presented to council November
28, 2011 was $22,400,000 which included a
construction contingency of $800,000. As of
November 26, 2012, total expenditures have been
$10,108,000,” explained Gillespie. “As the project
contract has a fixed price, the only way the
contractor can ask for additional funds is if there is a
change to the project scope requested by the
Architect and approved by the City. These changes
can result in either an increased or decreased cost to
the City.”
On this project there were a number of changes at
the start of the project that resulted in cost savings.
Since that time, there have also been a number of
small design changes resulting in some extra costs,
but these are expected on a project of this
size, and budgeted for as a part of
the project contingency.
“To date, the changes have resulted in a total cost
reduction of $276,000 (to October 31). Our Architect
has commented that the project is going very well
and that there have been very few of these extras
compared to other projects he has managed,” added
Gillespie.
“So, to summarize, with the Wetaskiwin Regional
Aquatic & Fitness Centre approximately half way
complete, the project is on budget and expected
to be completed within the budget presented to
Council November 28, 2011,” concluded Gillespie
in his address to council.
By enhancing the quality of life, health and wellness
of residents, the facility will encourage a healthy
workforce for local businesses. Additional features,
such as corporate membership advantages,
recognition for wellness programs, and the ability to
hold corporate challenges will also benefit the
business community. An influx of visitors year-round
will bolster sales to local businesses. Enhanced
facilities will attract and retain residents, ensuring
long-term profitability and growth for those who
choose to invest in Wetaskiwin.
“As a business owner in our community, it’s
important to me that people have the amenities they
need within the community so that they choose to live
here. When people settle in, or even travel to other
communities for recreation purposes, they take their
spending dollars with them,” says Frank Luebke,
President & CEO of Manluk Global Manufacturing
Solution. “I want Wetaskiwin viewed as a thriving
community.”
The Wetaskiwin Regional Aquatic & Fitness Centre is
expected to be open in the fall of 2013.
7
“Overall business
creation in Alberta
has shifted in
favour of smaller
enterprises.
Micro-businesses
Rural communities, such as those in the JEDI region, need a robust economy to sustain
have been
local business, foster business growth, new jobs and investment. In some instances, if
responsible for most
communities are lucky enough to be ‘in the right place at the right time’, business growth
of Alberta’s small
business growth. In the
takes place, often in leaps and bounds. However, communities with ongoing economic
past five years, the
development programs can demonstrate that a collated approach to economic
number of microdevelopment can make a very positive difference in the community.
businesses has
increased by nearly seven
One way of supporting the local business community is through the implementation of
percent. Over the same
an effective business retention and expansion (BRE) program. This is a critical
period,
economic development tool for keeping in touch with local businesses and developing
businesses with 20 or more
employees have
appropriate strategies to help sustain and foster business growth. According to
experienced double-digit
Alberta Enterprise & Advanced Education, business retention and expansion (BRE) is
decreases in their growth
an internationally recognized program that focuses on “taking care of, nurturing and
rates.”
supporting” businesses in a community to stay and grow.
- Source: Small Business, Big
Impact, Alberta Small Business
While the attraction of new businesses and the encouragement of new business
Profile
Local Business – The Primary Catalyst of
Business Development
start-ups are important parts of an overall economic development strategy, most
communities now recognize the need to do a lot more to assist existing businesses,
not just to survive but to grow and expand. Economic development statistics show
that in excess of 80% of business growth comes from within the community.
Research also shows that most new jobs are created by existing businesses. So, as
a proponent of industrial/business growth, JEDI shall be allocating more
effort/resources to BRE in 2013 starting with visits to local manufacturing companies
to get a better understanding of their needs and aspirations.
http://eae.alberta.ca/media/341826/
sp_eh-smallbusprofile.pdf
Small businesses make up 96
per cent of all businesses in
Alberta.
- Source: Small Business, Big
Impact, Alberta Small Business
Profile
http://eae.alberta.ca/media/341826/
sp_eh-smallbusprofile.pdf
Edie Spagrud, JEDI’s Director of Economic Development, says “Just as
any business has to retain its own competitive advantages and
continually align its operations to provide better customer service, JEDI,
as an industrial development organization, must continually look for
ways to provide a better business environment for business within the
region, particularly the major ‘economic generators’ such as the
manufacturing sector.”
Small Business in
Alberta
96%
4%
Based on the feedback received from the meetings, JEDI, in collaboration with its
municipal partners, shall endeavor to address the major ‘red flag’ issues inhibiting
business growth and implement some long term strategies that will support
sustainability and growth of the manufacturing sector within the JEDI
region.
Did You Know?
Statistics Canada and Alberta Tourism, Parks & Recreation show Overnight Tourism by Tourism
Destination Region totaled 41.01 Million Person Nights in 2010, with Alberta Central hosting 16% of
total visitors to Alberta (surpassed only by Edmonton and Calgary areas of the province and the same
percentage as the Canadian Rockies). Tourism is a very successful industry in Alberta Central.
Source document: Highlights of the Alberta Economy 2012,
Government of Alberta
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