The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is hoping to help kick off the new Credit Union CUPlex with a bang this fall.
Chamber President Pat Smith outlined their plans for a major business trade show called the Battlefords Best Business Showcase, which will take place in mid-October.
It will be a major trade show to be held over three days, likely Oct. 18 to 20, designed to coincide with Small Business Week.
The hope is the Chamber will hold it at the new field house, which is to be completed by that time. Chamber executive director Linda Machniak said at a directors' meeting March 20 she talked to both Siobhan Gormley and Keith Anderson with the Parks and Recreation Department and it was confirmed the facility would be available on those dates.
Smith was buoyant about the prospects for the new trade show, which is seen as a potential revenue generator for the Chamber, They are seeking now ways to generate revenues to make up for a shortfall in this year's budget, and he said he believes the trade show will achieve that goal.
Smith called it a way to "showcase our businesses in a different manner and different environment than we have in the past."
The venue will provide small and large businesses with the opportunity to showcase the services they provide.
The Chamber hopes to make it an annual event that could use the CUPlex facilities for years to come. It is possible that tours of the finished CUPlex components could be organized as part of this fall's event.
The Chamber directors were told the trade show should complement Agrimex that is also held annually. Agrimex show is held in the spring and focuses on agriculture, while the Chamber's show will be held in the fall with focus on all businesses.
The event will also allow the Chamber to maintain a presence on the fall calendar. Previously, they had held major educational events for businesses at around this time.
It will be an intensive effort for the Chamber to hold the trade show, and Smith expects a "learning as we go" process, but told the directors he believes it will be ultimately successful.
To that end the Chamber has struck a number of committees that will be intensively preparing for the event over the next couple of months.
