Feedback sought in business vitality survey

By Janet Kanters, Editor

Community Futures Wild Rose and Community Futures Centre West is partnering with various municipalities in its region, including Strathmore, Standard, Hussar and Rockyford, and with Wheatland County Economic Development to implement a business vitality survey. 

According to a news release, survey data will assist project partners to identify opportunities and action plans in the recovery and rebuilding of businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The results will provide Community Futures organizations and its partners an overview of the health of the business sectors as well as identify labour, training and investment needs of businesses and entrepreneurs over the short and long term.

“Gaining an understanding of how our businesses are doing in the overall region is critical,” said Wheatland County Reeve and Community Futures Wild Rose board chair, Amber Link. “This survey provides a snapshot of business vitality across the region and defines what is unique or similar within each municipality regardless of whether it’s a village, town or county.”

The survey will be implemented at various times throughout the year to develop sector overviews of current and future status of businesses. 

Link said this will provide “insight into changes over time, and whether program supports, innovation or future challenges that may arise are happening across any or all economic sectors.”

The business vitality survey can be accessed online at wildrose.albertacf.com/business-survey or infinitewc.ca/apr-2020-business-survey.

Entrepreneurs or managers of the businesses can participate in the survey between April 28 to May 8. Results from the survey will allow Community Futures Wild Rose to work in collaboration with the municipalities and economic development to develop a local and regional snapshot for partners to utilize with various levels of government and support services to access programs necessary for business growth and development. 

“We are pleased to collaborate on the business vitality survey with our municipalities and economic development throughout the region,” said Wendy Gerbrandt, Community Futures Wild Rose Community economic development project lead. “The health and retention of our rural businesses is critical to ensure we can continue to provide quality employment opportunities and quality of life within our villages, towns, city and counties.”