Government
of Saskatchewan
Economic
News Report
for
Two Weeks Ending November 30, 2007
Swift Current
Region
Elrose
Elrose has invested thousands of fundraising dollars into renovations
at its sports complex in an effort to keep recreation programs
alive and well in the community. At least $110,000 has been
spent on capital projects at the Elrose Uniplex since spring,
including a major facelift to the hockey rink, upgrades to the
swimming pool and curling rink, and the purchase of a new ice
resurfacer. (The Press Review, November 20, 2007)
Residents in rural areas between Rosetown and Elrose can expect
another survey on whether they'd like to get connected to a
waterline supplying treated water and how much they'd likely
use. The Rural Municipality of St. Andrews has begun surveying
residents on their interest in having water delivered to their
farm homes as part of the Saskatchewan Landing water pipeline
project, and an official said the RM of Monet would conduct
another survey, since the last one occurred about five years
ago. (West Central Crossroads, November 26, 2007)
Leader
On November 27th a meeting was held at the Leader Community
Centre to discuss interest in or ideas regarding Tourism and/or
Economic Development in Leader and area. (Leader News, November
21, 2007)
Maple Creek
The commercial property at 111 Harder Street has been sold.
Jason Newman will be offering a selection of bicycles for all
ages at a variety of prices for residents of the area. He will
also be offering bicycle repair services and plans to be ready
for the bike business by spring. Kevin Were has been doing custom
leather work for years, primarily from home and is enthused
to finally do business full-time from a dedicated commercial
location. (Maple Creek News, November 22, 2007)
Pacific Avenue Dental is under new management effective December
1st. (Maple Creek Advance Times, November 27, 2007)
Rosetown
A study shows that having as few as 10 Rosetown residents commuting
by air to Fort McMurray would have a considerable economic effect
on business in town. The Fort McMurray Committee in September
commissioned RP Erickson and Associates of Calgary to conduct
an economic analysis of the local airport. Erickson outlined
findings last week to some members of the committee investigating
the possibility of regular flights to the Alberta oil sands
centre from Rosetown. (Rosetown Eagle, November 19, 2007)
Businesses looking to recruit may do well to learn about the
benefits of hiring skilled immigrant workers, according to Prairie
West College which hosts presentations on this topic in Rosetown,
Outlook and Kindersley this week. (Rosetown Eagle, November
19, 2007)
Shaunavon
Construction will begin in the spring on a new senior's assisted-living
complex in Shaunavon. This past Saturday, a crowd of approximately
70 people came to the Senior's Centre to hear details on the
complex from Dr. John Beveridge. Dr. Beveridge says he will
move ahead to build the nine units on land he purchased near
Avondale Park. (http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/, November
19, 2007)
Jack Salmon, the president of Cypress Agri-Energy, has been
appointed to the Saskatchewan Biofuels Development Council Inc.
(The Shaunavon Standard, November 20, 2007)
An effort to bring an ethanol plant to the Southwest has reached
a critical stage. Efforts to raise local funds for the 150 million
litre plant have been slow during the first two months of the
fundraising drive. Cypress Agri Energy is hoping to raise somewhere
between $5 million and $35 million through local investment.
(The Shaunavon Standard, November 20, 2007)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest
The Board of Directors of Great West Beef and Bison have decided
the timing is not right to pursue their livestock processing
plans in the Southwest. On November 16th the doors to the Great
West Beef and Bison office in Swift Current closed and the project
was put in mothballs for a potential future attempt. (The Southwest
Booster, November 22, 2007)
Southwest municipalities are continuing to investigate the feasibility
of developing a regional landfill site. Six municipalities including
the towns of Shaunavon and Eastend, along with RMs of Arlington,
White Valley, Bone Creek, and Grassy Creek, have made a financial
commitment to further study the initiative. Municipal leaders
have been discussing the possibility of creating a regional
landfill site for several months. (The Shaunavon Standard, November
27, 2007)
Swift Current
One of Swift Current's newest businesses is having its official
opening on November 17th. Kaitlin Kennedy is the owner of Urban
Ground, a new coffee shop in the city. She says she felt there
was a market for specialty coffees in the city. The Southwest
Entrepreneurial Centre assisted Kennedy with her new business,
and she recommends the resources offered by the Centre to all
young entrepreneurs. (http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/, November
17, 2007)
At this week's City Council meeting, Council agreed to amend
a motion regarding the developing and servicing of the Oak Park
Developments. The City's new condition for the developer is
that before any money is advanced, an interest must be registered
on titles to protect the City. It was decided at City Council
that Oak Park Developments will pay the City prime plus two
percent on any outstanding balance, and that balance shall not
exceed $350,000. Oak Park will now pay the City $10,000 every
time a unit is sold. By the 35th unit, the City will have recouped
all of its costs. (http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/, November
22, 2007)
Swift Current's new Canadian Tire location held their grand
opening from November 15th - 18th. (The Southwest Booster, November
22, 2007)
The City of Swift Current is one of many communities looking
to benefit from a vibrant oil and gas sector, according to Chief
Administrative Officer Matt Noble. Noble says as we expect to
see the City grow, a plan is already in place to compensate
for any growth that may happen. The development plan includes
a significant growth factor, which includes oil and gas, manufacturing,
and agricultural-based development. (http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/,
November 23, 2007)
Moose Jaw Region
Gravelbourg
Roy and Jenna Song are the new owners of Kim's Food Mart in
Gravelbourg. (Gravelbourg Tribune, November 26, 2007)
Moose Jaw
Alliance Pipeline has donated $180,000 to SIAST Palliser Campus.
It is the largest corporate cash donation in the campus' history.
The donation paid for 32 new work stations and equipment upgrades
to a lab in the Instrumentation engineering department.
The lab is currently used by 150 students in the instrumentation
engineering technology diploma program and about 50 apprentice
industrial instrumentation mechanics. (Moose Jaw Times
Herald, December 1, 2007)
Contributed
by Saskatchewan
Regional
Economic and Co-operative Development
(306)
933-5750 or (306) 787-1605
