By Chantal Wagner

Results are in

Local businesses had their say in BREWD survey

Jan 31, 2020 | 5:30 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce says there was a great response rate from business owners and job seekers following a survey last fall.

476 local and regional businesses took part in the survey with Invest Southeast Alberta.

It was a 21 percent response rate, which Invest Southeast Alberta says is a phenomenal result for a survey of this size.

The Business Retention Expansion & Workforce Development (BREWD) survey found 45 percent of businesses are looking to expand or modernize in the near future.

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And 60 percent feel business will pick up in the next two years.

The BREWD Survey results will now help assist the success of the business community according to the Chamber’s Executive Director Lisa Kowalchuk.

“A good majority of businesses are actually looking at expansion opportunities, looking at hiring staff, less than 2 percent of businesses are looking at closures. Obviously, with the economic downturn, we have to be aware of those challenges that businesses have.”

The BREWD leadership team which includes the Chamber will meet this month to develop a strategic plan that’s slated for the spring.

“Looking at a lot of investment opportunities too and that was demonstrated through the land and business support annual report where there’s 20 larger investment opportunities, investors that are looking at our region. So it’s all quite positive but of course like anything there’s always room for growth and room for development and opportunities,” she said.

The plan includes promoting the region and business community, investment opportunities, and overall economic development strategy.

Kowalchuk expects to roll that report out to the public in the spring with the idea to have an economic growth forum and start the public engagement strategy.

Full survey results can be found by visiting this link.