Your Weekly Tune Up
Highway 3 twinning – Construction is expected to start in 2023
Caution: Roadwork ahead. The 2022 highway construction season is underway with nearly $1.4 billion being invested in 300 capital and highway improvement projects employing 12,000 Albertans. Read More
Planning continues for several capital projects, including:
- Highway 3 twinning – Construction is expected to start in 2023.
- Highway 1A and Highway 22 interchange at Cochrane – Construction is expected to start in 2023.
- Highway 11 twinning – Work has begun on Phase 1 of the project, which will include the construction of roundabouts at Highway 781 and Range Road 15. Phase 2 of the project is expected to begin early next year.
- Trans-Canada Highway Wildlife Overpass – Construction is underway, with completion scheduled for fall 2023.
Harvesting the power of smart agri-technology
Alberta’s government is supporting smart and digital technologies to boost production, reduce costs and create jobs in the agri-food sector.
An investment of almost $3.2 million will support 10 projects that will develop and advance smart technologies to enhance food production through digital solutions and automation.
Smart agriculture focuses on the development and application of innovative technology to increase the quantity and quality of agriculture and agri-food products. The projects will help to increase productivity, reduce waste and the environmental footprint of production, and decrease costs for Alberta farmers. Read More
Funding is being delivered through Alberta Innovates’ Smart Agriculture and Food Digitalization and Automation Challenge.
Alberta’s government is investing in front-line crime prevention by funding Alberta Crime Stoppers for the first time.
Crime Stoppers will use the $850,000 over the next three years to continue its crime prevention efforts and create an independent, provincewide crime prevention task force. The investment was endorsed by rural and urban police chiefs and will help to fight crime across the province at a community level.
Crime Stoppers’ track record shows its value in assisting Alberta law enforcement. In 2020 alone, Crime Stoppers received 18,000 tips that led to 400 arrests, 1,724 charges laid and the recovery and seizure of $4.3 million in cash, drugs and stolen property.
Fuelling Our Business Community
Jace Anderson shares the importance that Tourism Medicine Hat plays in creating an ecosystem for the business community to thrive.
Jace Anderson, Executive Director of Tourism Medicine Hat is our guest on this episode of Stories that Shape Our Community where we explore the importance of putting local first and the importance of building value for your stakeholders to help you with long-term goals.
The Medicine Hat Destination Marketing Organization is led by Jace and is an industry-led non-profit that exists to strengthen the city's tourism profile through destination awareness. The group knows that the key to making that occur is becoming a trusted partner in building Medicine Hat's tourism experience through destination development.
Suffield - Creating Connections and Building our Future
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce was pleased to host various representatives from Suffield in a morning of networking, connections, knowledge sharing and insight into the Base Operations, along with opportunities for local businesses to create connections.
CFB Suffield's mission is to provide a sustainable world class Range and Training Area that enables the Canadian Forces, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) and other potential users to achieve their mandates through effective stewardship of all the Range Training Areas infrastructure and equipment. What you may not be aware of is how they work each and every day to achieve that mission.
During our morning with Suffield attendees learned about the history of Suffield, as well as their future-focused agenda. They also tackled the complexity of the Base operations, the incredible individuals responsible for the operations on a daily basis and ways that business can work with the Base operations through procurement and support.
Key objectives:
- To provide insight into CFB Suffield Operations, BATUS, DRDC and provide attendees certainty about the future of the Base
- To provide awareness about the economic impact and challenges
- To provide education on the procurement opportunities available at the Base through all operational divisions
- To provide opportunities to support our military through connections with other programs such as the Personnel Support Programs and the Military Family Resource Centre
The Power of Community
Grand Openings!!
20/20 Vision Care Mobile Care Service. Dr. Michael McClung opened a very much needed service in our community which we got the honor to celebrate!
Kleenway Services Grand Opening of their new location! To be able to hear Lynn and Mona’s story and their passion for the business was amazing!
Homestead Market on their Grand Opening! Although Homestead has been open for a while now they were finally able to celebrate on the perfect day. The turnout was amazing and we are so happy that we were able to celebrate with them.
Lift Grand Opening! Lift was started 5 years ago, after covid and other obstacles they were finally able to open an amazing location at the 7 Strachan Bay Outlet. Lift is a Beauty Boutique and they now have the perfect space for it.
Enriching Your Business
See all our Value Added Benefits!
Fill Up On Funding
The Alberta Jobs Now ProgramÂ
The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work.
There have been significant changes made to the program including opening the program to Alberta businesses and non-profits that have been incorporated or registered for less than a year.
Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training Albertans in new or vacant positions.
Supporting women entrepreneurs
Additional loan funds are now available to help women entrepreneurs get easier access to capital in order to create jobs and help diversify the economy.
Alberta’s government is investing $6 million in grant funding for business loans aimed at supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs by providing them with more access to capital. The loan program provides low interest business loans and business advisory supports to women entrepreneurs.
Loans of up to $75,000 will be more accessible to women entrepreneurs than traditional bank loans very soon. Women who want to start or grow a business can apply for the funds, which can be used to pay employees, purchase equipment, and buy merchandise.
Advocacy in Action
Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce Advocating for You
The Chamber evaluates emerging issues and we want to encourage members to submit their concerns via the business issue submission form on our website. When a business submits an issue, it enables us to continue our work in identifying barriers to business success and growth within our region. It also allows us to create recommendations and facilitate conversations to create an atmosphere that is conducive to business and sustainable community growth.
Next Level Events
Mint Smartwash Anniversary!!
Thursday, June 2, 2022 (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM) (MDT)
110, 1380 22nd Street SE
Medicine Hat, AB T1A7M4 Canada
You are invited to join Mint Smartwash for food and refreshments to celebrate their one year in Medicine Hat!
This free to attend event will allow everyone to network and meet their Owner and President! Help them launch into the next year with lots of laughs and joy! They hope all Chamber members are able to attend this special event.
The Digital Economy & The Programs Supporting It
This will be an informative event to talk about 2 amazing programs being offered to businesses in Alberta. We will be joined by guests from both Digital Main Street & the BDC.
The Digital Economy Program
• Digital Service Squads
• ShopHERE Powered by Google
The Canadian Digital Adoption Program
• Grow Your Business Online
• Boost Your Business Technology
When: May 31st, 2022
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (MST)
Where: Online (Remo Platform)
2022 What's next for your business?
June 2nd, 2022Â |Â 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The past two years have posed unique challenges and opportunities for many business owners across Canada. With continued uncertainty over COVID-19, market turbulence, and emerging and evolving trends—many are left wondering what to do next.
Adopting a forward-looking strategy that will help you plan your road ahead and navigate your next move in 2022 is essential to success. To help in this endeavor, Grant Thornton LLP and the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce invite business leaders to join a conversation discussing "What's next for your business?"
In this session, you will:
- Gain a fresh perspective on your road ahead – whether that's to unlock opportunities, drive growth or plan your exit.
- Learn how other businesses in your community plan to retool, re-focus, and build resiliency for the future
Other News
Other Events
May 31: How to Protect You and Your Business When Starting Out |Â Register
June 1: Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape |Â Register
June 1: The Temporary Foreign Worker Program |Â Register
June 8: Hire a Worker Without a Labour Market Impact Assessment |Â Register
June 8: The Future of Responsible Artificial Intelligence |Â Register
June 9: Todd Hirsch - Changing the Narrative |Â Register
June 15:Â Global Talent Recruitment Strategies |Â Register
June 22: Restarting, Reimagining, Accelerating and Recuperating: Women in the Post-Pandemic Era - National Women in Business Summit | Register
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