SUNDRE - As part of a new initiative, Sundre's mayor and chief administrative officer visited four new businesses in Sundre last month.
“Each business was presented with a small gift basket, a letter from the mayor and council, and an information package to welcome the new businesses and to thank them for selecting Sundre as their community of choice,” Linda Nelson, the Town of Sundre's chief administrative officer, reported to council during the Sept. 26 council meeting.
The initiative, she added, stemmed from spring workshop discussions and directives of council.
“There were a total of 12 new businesses that opened in 2022,” she said. “Over the next few weeks, each of the new 2022 businesses will receive a welcome package from the town.”
The initiative has to date been very well received by the businesses, one of whom reportedly said they’d never received such a red carpet treatment in any other municipality they’d operated a business in, said Mayor Richard Warnock.
“Many mentioned that they truly felt welcome in our community,” said Nelson.
Coun. Jaime Marr asked if the welcome package included information about the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce.
Nelson said the business welcome package comes complete with all kinds of information outlining the resources available in the community, including of course not only the chamber but also other non-profit organizations such as Greenwood Neigbhourhood Place Society as well as maps of local recreational amenities.
“This is a good thing that council decided to do,” said Warnock, expressing a desire to somehow expand the program to include home-based businesses by coming up with an approach that wouldn’t infringe on their privacy.
“But they should be also welcomed in some manner or fashion, and we’ll figure out something.”
Council proceeded to unanimously carry a motion approving Nelson’s report for information.
