EAST CENTRAL — The Mid-Sask Municipal Alliance (MSMA) is building a database of businesses located 100 kilometers from the BHP Jensen Potash Project.
Some of these communities include Humboldt, Watson, Jansen, Watrous, Manitou Beach, Nokomis, Lanigan, Drake and LeRoy and the RMs of LeRoy, Prairie Rose and Morris.
“Primarily, we were contracted from BHP,” said Celine Favreau, director of operations and planning for the alliance. “As they move forward with the Jensen Project, they’re looking at ways to be more aware about what is available in the region for sales and services.”
BHP has provided $66,300 to the MSMA for the development and launch of this database.
“They are going to be using it to access and fill their needs as they ramp up construction over there in the New Year,” she said.
“If the company in the region has the capacity to fill their needs and it line up to satisfy their specifications, their first choice will be [local].”
While this is a BHP contract, Favreau said the database will be available online for any companies or individuals who are searching for specific goods or services.
It is expected to launch in early 2021.
The database isn’t exclusive to mining operations, but includes all kinds of businesses.
The overhead classifications on the site are planned to be “mining and manufacturing”, “agriculture”, “tourism” and “commercial hub”.
Favreau said her goal is to get all sectors reflected, so that this directory will also support the tourism and agriculture industry.
“I’m an economic developer, and I’ve always felt a regional business directory is what these regions need to be doing so that when we move into a region or when you live in a region, you actually take part in and purchase things in a trade area.”
To fill the list, Favreau said her team has been promoting the site, but are also phoning every business in the region.
“We have a team hired that has been contacting every business and offering to help them get registered, or pointing them in the direction and answering any questions they need to help themselves register,” Favreau said.
To be added to the list, businesses that haven’t been connected with can go to msmaregion.com/business-database/ or call 306-946-9000.
