BOWDEN -- Town council has approved plans for the community's first showcase for businesses — both storefront and home-based.
Plans for that event were unveiled during council's Jan. 28 meeting.
It's set for April 27 in the new Paterson Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Organizers say any registered business (one with a Town of Bowden business licence) and that has a TOM OKO postal code is eligible to obtain a booth.
A memo says the town's Economic Development Committee (EDC) is hopeful the showcase will be an annual event.
"It's kind of fun. I think it's going to be really, really good," Coun. Carol Pion, chair of the EDC said during discussion.
"We know that they're running on pennies. We really just want to get them out of their home and then get the town to put them in the spotlight," she added.
A memo on the matter said there are about 92 registered home-based businesses (those that have taken out a business licence) with a TOM OKO postal code (thus deemed to be in or near Bowden).
Councillors Paul Webb and Sandy Gamble were amazed by that figure, as was Coun. Randy Brown, a member of the EDC.
"I would think a lot of Bowden doesn't know (that)," he said.
"How many do we have that are unlicensed?" Gamble asked.
"That's the point, we don't know," Pion said.
The opportunity to enable more people to find out about their business via the showcase might spur unlicensed businesses to become licensed, councillors said.
"As soon as they get a licence, they get an invitation (to display at the show)," Pion said. "So we're hoping it'll work hand in hand to get people out to buy a licence and get registered."
"We want businesses to succeed, regardless of size or whether they're commercially located or residentially located," Coun. Paul Webb said.
"And we can't help them if we don't know about them, right? So that's the whole premise, is to really get the licences out there," Pion added.
She also said the showcase would provide a great opportunity for storefront businesses to mentor home-based businesses -- to pass on some tips.
In an email to the Albertan, interim chief administrative officer Jacqui Molyneux said when businesses take out a licence with the town that enables them to be listed on Bowden's website.
Brown said the committee deliberately chose the word showcase, rather than trade show, because the idea is to let residents know what businesses exist in town and to help them grow.
Pion asked for support from council and the town.
And she got it.
Council passed a motion accepting a report on the showcase and approving a plan for staff to help out at chief administrative officer Jacqui Molyneux's discretion.
Coun. Wayne Milaney expressed support for the showcase in general. However, he pointed out there are several businesses — for instance some that set up shop at a local market — that aren't technically from Bowden, yet support the community.
He also noted a young couple planning to develop tiny homes in Bowden do not live in the community yet could help it grow.
Brown and Pion conceded those two points but said they had to set some parameters somewhere for at least this first show.
Webb said there might be another positive spinoff from the showcase.
"Going forward, who knows? Maybe we'll get a chamber of commerce," he said.
Brown agreed.
"Exactly," he said.
