Photo by Bob Schneider - Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce chair Sarah MacKenzie talks about the future of Invest Medicine Hat.

By Alex McCuaig

Invest Medicine Hat

Future of economic development agency up for council vote tonight

Aug 19, 2019 | 5:15 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – City councillors will vote tonight on the fate of Invest Medicine Hat as the organization’s contract is set to expire at the end of the month.

The organization was first contracted by the city to provide economic development services to the municipality in 2015 with that two-year contract being renewed in 2017.

The recommendation contained in a July 31, 2019 briefing note on restructuring the organizational structure at the city recommends the services be moved in-house and the current staff at Invest Medicine Hat retained.

Coun. Kris Samraj said the organization and its staff have done a solid job for the city but there is no guarantee the company would continue to provide services as the contract would require to be put out for tender at the end of this month.

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“They’ve done phenomenally well,” Samraj said of Invest Medicine Hat. “Their results speak for themselves – Aurora Sun and Folium (providing) 600-plus jobs.”

Sarah MacKenzie, chair of the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce, echoed the concerns regarding losing the current staff at the organization through the tending process.

MacKenzie added that in addition to the large company’s Invest Medicine Hat was able to help attract to the city, “even the smaller organizations like Grit City Distillery, the three different breweries – those are organizations that have received support and advice from Invest Medicine Hat.”