The Rimbey Chamber of Commerce is putting feelers out to gauge interest in a project designed to put life into the downtown core.
The incubator project, which is up and running successfully in Rocky Mountain House, may catch on here, said chamber president Jackie Stratton.
“We need to contact home based businesses here and get their opinion. We need to see if they are interested. We need to get the word out.”
Only a handful of people showed up for a meeting held at the Best Western Rimstone Ridge Hotel at 7 p.m. last Thursday about the incubator program. Michelle Andrishak, who manages the incubator program in Rocky Mountain House, was the guest speaker.
Andrishak said government funding for the program in Rocky Mountain House helped the incubator project get off the ground, adding there were receptive business owners who were willing to participate.
“We were fortunate. We had renters right off the bat,” she said. “We were ready to rock and roll in three months.”
Andrishak said she was pleased to help the renters become self-sustaining.
“They were my chickens in a hen house. I really wanted them to survive.”
While the businesswoman said she would be happy to help Rimbey in an advisory capacity, a manager would be needed to oversee the project.
“I would be happy to act as an advisor and assist you in any way,” she said. “I can advise you, but you would manage it.”
The project is simple, she said.
“If you can’t afford a house, you get a roommate. It’s simply a commercial version of that.”
Mayor Rick Pankiw, who attended the presentation, said he likes the idea, but he sees it as a chamber initiative.
“The chamber has a lot of work ahead of them. And then they need to come together with a business proposal that they can present to the town,” he said.
Stratton is optimistic the incubator program could work here.
“I could certainly see it here. It certainly would give small businesses the opportunity to test the waters when they are just starting out.”
Some of the businesses in Rocky Mountain House who participated in the incubator program were Pure Healthy Essential Oils, That Game Store, KES Graphic Designs, Cougar Ridge Bookkeeping, Coldwell Banker Realty and Deep Reflections, a registered psychologist.
For more information about the incubator program contact Jackie Stratton at 403-843-2727 or Carrie Vaartstra at 403-843-2944.