Town council has waived the business licence requirement for small businesses participating in the Summer Oldstice event taking place on June 21 and 22.
About 60 vendors will be temporarily setting up shop in the uptown core during the two-day event. Vendors range from local artisans selling arts and crafts to businesses selling products made in Olds.
The Uptowne Olds committee approached council after learning that outside vendors would be charged the town's $50 non-residential business licence fee and asked the fee be waived in order to get more participation in the event.
Town staff told council that business licence exemptions are looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Mayor Judy Dahl said council agreed to the request because members of the Uptowne Olds group felt it necessary to bring as many outsiders to town to help celebrate the Olds College centennial, and that charging a licensing fee would hurt the Oldstice event.
“We felt it was too late to change (the bylaw). We felt it would be better to waive the fees at this time,” she said.
Town administrators estimate the town will forego $625 to $1,500 in licensing fees during the event.
