Strathmore Business Association hosts second meeting

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Business Association met for the second time, Nov. 5, this time at Origin Brewery to continue their discussion regarding local cooperation and collaboration between businesses. 

“I really enjoyed the excitement of all of the business owners wanting to work together and it was really neat how they all agreed that the heart and the pulse of Strathmore really is the downtown, and you can just see the collaboration synergy starting,” said Angela Groeneveld, senior manager of economic development with the Town of Strathmore. “We had representation from builders that were there, we had representation from the farmer’s market, we had an entrepreneur who is on their third business that they have opened in Strathmore; Tim Horton’s came to this one and we learned a lot from (them) on the gap with the workforce and solutions.”

The Town of Strathmore administration is not forming a business association. Groeneveld emphasized her role thus far is to facilitate conversations with business owners and asking them what they would like to see happen within the local business community. 

A primary objective is to connect local residents with local businesses, as well as to get local businesses to support each other. 

“We have got a couple more zones to talk to, and then I hope that we are going to move into action items and help them help themselves setting up their own association, or if they would like, to be an arm’s length subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce,” said Groeneveld. “I really encourage the business owners to come to these events because I want to connect with them and I want to ask them if they have any desire to be a part of an association that represents the entire business community.”

She explained there are three more business zones to reach out to, but there is consideration for breaking the meetings down into two sections instead of three. These would effectively be the west side of the downtown business community, and the east side of Strathmore’s central business community.

Regardless of how the meeting schedule eventually gets broken down, the next Strathmore Business Association meeting is likely to take place in December. 

“I think (it) is really important that the business owners need to take advantage of these events and this opportunity because … the project manager of the municipal development plan gives an overview of public engagement,” said Groeneveld. “Community builds community and we are working on a municipal development plan that will basically be the long-term growth plan for the town.”