A public hearing has been set for next month for a proposed fifth marijuana production facility that could lead to a potential 75 jobs.
A spokesperson for the company, PacWest Canopy Ltd., Jas Basi, explains that the jobs will be jobs people can thrive on.
“They’re going to be living wage jobs, ranging from administrative staff to security to growers to clippers, accounting, packaging, labelling, so it’s a wide range of jobs,” Basi said.
PacWest is joining the ranks of the Olds marijuana production club along with Sundial Growers, Blissful Science Inc., Terra Life Sciences (also known as Olds Softgels) and Crescent Enterprises.
The company isn’t concerned about the number of marijuana production facilities in Olds but sees that as exciting.
“There are no concerns because this is a new and thriving market,” said Basi. “I believe that more business that we bring into a community is always good; there isn’t direct competition because the demand is so high.”
The public hearing about the proposed bylaw will be held in the council chambers on Monday, June 11 at 1 p.m.
The bylaw is in regards to the proposed redesignation of an 11.5-acre lot in the south industrial area from Light Industrial District to the Direct Control 7, which is specific to medicinal marijuana facility use and development.
The company is eager to have a production facility in Olds because of how welcoming the council and town is to the cannabis industry.
“The town really sees the vision of cannabis, and having Olds College close by, we want to start working with Olds College,” said Basi.
In order for the change in designation to be made, the bylaw must pass second and third reading. Those readings are expected after the public hearing.
