New website gives access to info on shopping, events in Olds

EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS STORY ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED THE NEW WEBSITE AS AN APP BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CHAIR OF THE OLDS INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT'S BUSINESS ATTRACTION RETENTION AND EXPANSION COMMITTEE AND HAS SINCE BEEN MODIFIED TO CLARIFY THAT INFORMATION.


The Olds Institute of Community and Regional Development has created a new website that lets people know what's happening in the community, where to shop and how to invest in Olds.

The Everything Olds website went online in May and was developed by the institute's business attraction retention and expansion committee with funding from the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.

Mitch Thompson, the committee's chair, said the goal of the website is to "develop a shop local program" in town.

"What we've done is we've created a mobile website for use with all mainstream PDA (personal digital assistant) technology; your iPhones, your Androids, your BlackBerrys, etc.," he said. "What it does is it, it does the who, what, where and when of what's happening in Olds."

People who visit the website will have access to a local business directory, a calendar of community events as well as information about who is hosting the events and how to contact them, how to volunteer in the community and where to find services and restaurants in Olds.

Thompson said the website also has an "investment attraction feature."

"Someone can go online and get demographic data and information about how to invest in Olds for business opportunities."

So far, the institute has promoted the website by handing out stickers with quick response (QR) codes that can be read by smartphones at community events such as the World Plowing Championship held in Olds on July 19 and 20.

Information about the website was also shared with Uptowne Olds— which has "hugely supported" the website along with the Town of Olds— and there are plans to introduce the website to the Olds Chamber of Commerce and other service clubs in the coming weeks, Thompson said.

The website can be found at www.everythingolds.ca.

"I think it's just really a neat opportunity for us to share within and then outside of our borders all the wonderful things about Olds," Thompson said.

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