INNISFAIL – New space means new opportunities for small businesses looking to set up shop in Innisfail.
Seeing new buildings going up, like the new development in downtown, gives Innisfail and District Chamber of Commerce president Lorraine Jackson hope.
“I'm feeling kind of hopeful,” Jackson said, adding there's new business buildings going up in Innisfail and Penhold.
She encouraged anyone thinking of opening a business to come and see what Innisfail has to offer.
“I think there's a lot of opportunity for small business in Innisfail,” Jackson said, noting that she personally thinks it's a great community.
Building on the new Innisfail downtown mall continues, with walls going up last week. The new development, located at 50 Street and 49 Avenue, has permitted uses for businesses like a convenience store, health services, offices, personal services, retail store and a restaurant.
The town has issued a request for proposal to develop a commercial strip mall at the west end of Innisfail, at the intersection of Highway 54 and 42 Street.
Innisfail development officer Amy McMurtie praised the opportunities available, particularly in the new downtown mall.
“I think it's awesome. There's more new fresh space. It's nice to have brand new space for businesses,” she said.
She noted that sometimes it's easier to start in a new space rather than try and repurpose an old one.
Town of Innisfail policies and bylaws are designed to try and encourage businesses to start up, she said.
Prices for development permits are extremely low compared to other communities, and council has made a conscious decision to keep it that way, she said.
“It's been pretty steady so far for business development, for changes in use,” she said of the last few years at the town.
Changes in use applications are made when wanting to start a new type of business in a location that wasn't previously authorized for that use.
“I think we have a very optimistic look on what's going on right now,” she said, noting the new developments and even the new industrial land that's coming available soon.
It's likely that development in the industrial lands would help spur small business development, McMurtie said.
While a company setting up on industrial land might not be a small business itself, more workers coming to Innisfail could help bring more residents, which in turn can help encourage more small businesses to serve that growing population, she said.
“I think we're at a very progressive place right now in development, and we're just waiting for that fire to really get lit up with that economy as it's starting to build its way up,” she said, adding the policies and land are in place to encourage growth as the economy recovers.
“I think that will really get our downtown going hard too,” she said.
Meanwhile, many new small business opportunities are also popping up down Highway 2A in Penhold, particularly in the new strip mall under construction.
Five new businesses are opening, plus two relocations, said Mayor Dennis Cooper.
The post office and Arashi Do dojo are relocating to the new strip mall. Also opening are a local bakeshop, a daycare, a 24-hour Esso, a Tim Horton's and a laundromat, he said.
“I think any small business is going to have to be very multi-level,” he said. If a business can find a way to do more than one thing, they're more likely to be successful.. he said.
Amy McMurtie, Innisfail development officer
"It's been pretty steady so far for business development, for changes in use. I think we have a very optimistic look on what's going on right now."
