The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is considering playing an active role in bringing back the North Battleford downtown core.
Their idea is what the Chamber calls the "downtown project." According to executive director Linda Machniak, the discussion is whether the Chamber or its members should get together to possibly purchase a building or undertake a project to make a downtown property available.
According to Chamber president Ryan Moe, it could be filled by member businesses long-term, and thereby revitalize the downtown.
"It's something we talked about at the executive level and thought maybe there's an opportunity to put our money where our mouth is," said Moe.
"We're asking the city to be open for business and to energize business," he added, "so maybe it's something we as like-minded businesses could do."
A challenge, however, might be finding a building that is in adequate shape. Some of the vacant buildings downtown are "beyond repair," as one put it.
Moe acknowledged that was why a committee needed to be put together in order to investigate.
"There's a lot to go into figuring out if it's worth it or if we want to do it," said Moe.
The discussions at the Chamber board level are in the early stages. No decisions were made at Tuesday's Chamber board meeting on the issue, and it will likely be back for discussion again at their next board meeting in October.
