Spurring new ideas in rural development
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- Published on Wednesday, September 16, 2015
By Vern May
Prairie folks who have lived their whole lives in the same prairie town will look out the window of their local coffee shop and lament the evolution of main street in their community. Harkening back to an era with a bustling main street, they'll curse the regionalization of business and emergence of big box stores in the city that have radically changed the face of business in the heart of their downtown. There are even songs written about it.
While trying to compete with major chains and the pricing they can offer is an exercise in futility, there are still opportunities for rural centres to take a hand in steering their own fate. The needs of residents can be met, jobs can be created and economic diversification can be encouraged.
Next month, a partnership of neighbouring municipalities hopes to do just that. Demonstrating the shared interest in creating commercial and industrial growth, the entrepreneurship event dubbed What's the Big Idea? has municipal government and organizations, as well as social service organizations and commercial businesses, putting their money where their mouth is to offer financial incentives to help new businesses launch and existing businesses expand.
In all, more than $50,000 in cash awards and real estate incentives have been amassed, with plans to award the best ideas with strong financial and community support to help the projects launch. Nine individual prizes have been secured which can be issued either separately or combined, as they meet the criteria of eligibility for each prize category. Some awards are inherently geographically based, but not all. RM of Oakview, for example, has posted a $500 prize for a business pitch "which best benefits residents of the municipality.” While pitches for businesses located within the municipality would be considered, businesses which service the needs of Oakview residents but are located in neighbouring jurisdictions would also be considered. This opens up the possibilities for businesses looking to launch and/or expand in Rivers, Hamiota, Strathclair, Shoal Lake, Minnedosa and all points in between.
Other awards include a prize posted by RBC, offering $300 toward the best overall pitch of the day, $150 offered by Neepawa Lionelles club for the best pitch by a female entrepreneur in the service area of their club. These, in addition to prizes posted by Minnedosa and Neepawa chambers of commerce and by the towns and development corporations in Minnedosa, Neepawa and Minto-Odanah, combine to create a dynamic environment to fuel business launches.
Registration to make a pitch is free and open to any and all area men, women and youth with an enterprising spirit. For more information or to register a pitch, contact Marilyn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /204-476-7607 or Vern at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /204-867-3885.
A Facebook event has been created to share detailed information on the speakers, awards and opportunity available at What’s the Big Idea?on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Minnedosa Community Conference Centre. Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/428445804009868/.
