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Economic Development

Economic Development Initiatives

Wainwright Biz Box

To celebrate the 2024 Small Business Week, Wainwright Economic Development is excited to be putting together our third collaboration box to showcase the wonderful and unique businesses the Wainwright area has to offer.  For the past two years, we have enjoyed curating the Wainwright Biz Box. However, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and 2024 marks the final year for our Biz Box. We're determined to make this year's edition the most remarkable yet, and we warmly invite you to participate in the final edition.

Last year all 100 of the Wainwright Biz Boxes sold out in under two hours!  This year we are aiming to have 100 boxes available to be sold during Small Business Week, which runs from October 20 – 26, 2024.

Wainwright Economic Development is looking for items to fill each of these boxes based on price point and expected popularity, with extra interest in items that are made locally and/or unique to this area.  In order to keep the sale cost of these boxes low, we are hoping to purchase selected items at cost from retailers.  This is a non-profit initiative, with the sole purpose being to highlight and promote our area’s businesses.  Businesses must be located within the M.D. of Wainwright in order to participate.

Interested businesses who do not have retail products or are not chosen to contribute to the box are invited to sponsor this box with a minimum $250 cash donation.   

Apply by May 15, 2024 for your business to be part of this year's Biz Box!

PDF Applications

For more information, please contact Chelsey Eklund at the Town of Wainwright.  780-842-3381 or ceklund@wainwright.ca

Please take a look at our 2023 Biz Box Book to find out more about this wonderful initiative. 
Biz Box

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest.

The Town of Wainwright is a participating community.

Learn about eligibility criteria, how to apply and what to do after you are nominated.

Share with us Why You Love Wainwright – We are looking for stories, photos, videos, memories etc. that highlight what a great community Wainwright is.  Show us what our community means to you and your family – we hope to see love, kindness, humour – anything that positively showcases Wainwright.

For information and rules, please view: Why Wainwright? Rules

Funding

The Town of Wainwright offers funding to community groups or organizations providing an event or activity that will encourage positive economic activity in the community. This initiative is fully funded on an annual basis by the Town of Wainwright through the Town of Wainwright’s Economic Development Support Fund Budget.

Criteria

  • Must promote local economic activity
    • For events/activities that will bring economic development opportunities from outside the Town and M.D. boundaries into Wainwright
    • For the initial start-up of events/activities
    • For community organizations providing benefits for Wainwright and district residents
  • Events that receive funding from other Town Departments will not be considered for funding
  • Groups or organizations may only be eligible for funding once per year
  • Established/proven events/activities may qualify for reduced funding
  • It is expected that the host community will provide at least 50% of the funding towards the event/activity (for example, an event in Irma must provide at least 50% of the revenue via sponsorships, municipal support etc. with the remaining 50% of funding being supplied by the Town of Wainwright Economic Development Support Fund)
  • Funding will not be provided to events that are primarily focused on gambling, alcohol etc.
  • The Town may provide annual sponsorship funding to local business associations supporting economic development at the sole discretion of the Committee
  • The Town of Wainwright will be identified as a sponsor of the event/activity

Partnerships

Wainwright Economic Development is pleased to provide free confidential assistance to all businesses.  Economic Development should be contacted to:

  • Expand, relocate or establish a new business in Wainwright and area
  • Provide assistance in searching for available land or buildings
  • For economic, statistical and market information
  • Tourism inquiries
  • General business information

Our Core Services are summarized in 5 broad categories

  1. Business Retention and Expansion
  2. Business Investment and Attraction
  3. Marketing, Promotion and Tourism
  4. Community Development
  5. Research and Information Services

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