Strathmore Chamber expands office

Times Contributor

 

Representatives from the Strathmore Chamber of Commerce asked for a $40,000 loan to upgrade a potential lease space available in Country Lane Mall.

The Chamber would share the office space with Jason Hale, Wildrose Party Member of the Legislature, and would apply to be the Visitor information Centre for the area.

“We see it as a creative and innovative contribution to Strathmore businesses,” said President Debbie Wakelam.

The office would occupy the front half of the old Prairie Saddlery store. The Chamber had money for the lease but the space needed to be redesigned for an office setup. They proposed that the Town would be half partners in the enterprise and the other half of the loan would be paid at $4,000 yearly on a no interest basis. Hale would be paying rent on a sublease basis.

The Chamber currently has 117 paid members and hosts regular business network meetings. They were confident that membership would continue to grow.

Councillor Bob Sobal questioned whether sharing the space with Hale constituted a political partisanship. Wakelam noted that the office would be open to all constituents no matter what their party affiliation. 

Wakelam said the Chamber chose the site because of its access to the highway, good parking and its prime real estate value. Councillor Best commented that as a visitor information centre, access was not as direct as it would be if it were situated right along the highway.

Councillor Pat Fule had concerns that the Chamber was vacating a space they held in the downtown area, when vacancy rates in the downtown were high. He was concerned about what message the move would be sending to other potential businesses.

Mayor Steve Grajczyk requested that the Chamber bring a strict budget back to the council and they would give them a decision by the July 18 council meeting.