For the second year in a row the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has ranked the the surrounding Calgary area including Airdrie, Rocky View, Cochrane and Chestermere as the best place to start and grow a business.
Alberta once again dominated the top ten of the 2015 Entrepreneurial Communities Report with six municipalities from Alberta making the list and only one municipality from Ontario.
"We have over 1,200 home based entrepreneurs, we have over 800 business that have come into the community and setup their businesses," says Kent Rupert, Team Lead of Airdrie Economic Development. "I really do think it's the entrepreneurial spirit that we've been able to create and then we look at the SMARTstart program and that's really an Airdrie made grassroots entrepreneur generator that we're very proud of."
Rupert believes that SMARTstart and the so-called Canadian dream to operate business in Alberta are some of the driving factors that bring people to the Calgary region, specifically Airdrie.
"Our location is always a huge advantage for Airdrie businesses because not only do we have a great and growing local market, we have a great and growing regional market as well."
The CFIB ranked the municipalities on 14 different indicators included in three areas - presence, perspective and policy. Scores were then tallied across the three categories to rank the municipalities in order and once again Airdrie rose to the top with the Calgary area.
Rupert believes Airdrie Economic Development's has made simple changes to attract businesses and entrepreneurs to the region while also offering the world class SMARTstart program to provide mentorship opportunities.
"We'll be going into our third year running it and we've won a couple of provincial awards for it as well as a couple community futures awards."
"The best part of it is it is really grassroots, it's entrepreneurs in the community that are coming forward to say hey I have an idea or I've been in business for a couple years but I need to take it to the next level."
Rupert also noted the city's ability to streamline business process such as make it easier to renew or apply for business licenses online.
The 2015 rankings by the CFIB are as follows:
- Calgary Region (municipalities of Airdrie, Rocky View, Cochrane, and Chestermere)
- Penticton, BC
- Kelowna, BC
- Grand Prairie, AB
- Collingwood, ON
- Okotoks, AB
- Brooks, AB
- Edmonton Region (municipalities of Strathcona County, St. Albert, Parkland, Spruce Grove, Leduc, and others)
- Lloydminster, AB
- Swift Current, SK
All in all Rupert says the CFIB ranking just attracts more business and makes people realize that despite economic times, Airdrie and the Rocky View region is the place to operate.
"It just gives great exposure for us Rocky View, Cochrane, all of our regional partners as well that this is still the place to do business, this is a place to set up business, and this is a place to expand your business."
Bradley Jones - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com
Sun, May 19, 1:00 PM
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