Rockford Rutledge is running for city council (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Business owner aims to attract more business if elected

Sep 6, 2021 | 7:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The owner of Canadian GunHub says he will work to attract businesses to Medicine Hat if elected.

Rockford Rutledge, is one of 31 candidates vying for one of eight seats on council.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few years. I noticed there is very little diversity in this city, and they don’t allow new businesses to come in, or old businesses to come back, so I would really like to make a difference there and attract industry and business, which will attract the people and our city can grow” he said.

Rutledge said he knows the impact of the city’s unwillingness to welcome business firsthand. He said when he first was looking to set up his business, he ran into challenges and ended up setting up shop in Cypress County instead.

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“The building I originally picked out to put my business into the city is still vacant to this day, and this has happened to a lot of people that have tried building businesses in our city,” he said.

Rutledge said attracting business to the city starts with ensuring there is land available for big businesses to set up.

“Currently the city has no industrial land inventory. So I would like to get the city to purchase land so we have somewhere to put industries, and make it harder for the city to say no to businesses that want to come into our city,” he said.

Rutledge said tax incentives, ensuring utilities are low and amenities such as recreation facilities also go hand in hand with attracting business.

And despite the controversy with Invest Medicine Hat, Rutledge believes the current team has a lot to bring to the table.

“I talked a lot with Invest Medicine Hat. I know them quite well now. They are really great. They are really good at bringing in business. Sometimes they get painted in a bad light, but they work really hard and I believe they are a real powerhouse,” Rutledge said.

Rutledge moved to Medicine Hat in 1997 and attended Medicine Hat College. He said back then Medicine Hat was a very vibrant city, but it has dwindled over the years.

“We are missing a lot of entertainment, there is not a lot of nightlife like there used to be, so a lot of young middle-aged people, don’t have anywhere to go,” he said

The municipal election is Oct. 18.