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Supporting Small Business

County MPC approves small business development permits

Feb 25, 2021 | 11:22 AM

A strong show of support for small businesses in Red Deer County this week as the County’s Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) granted approvals for three new businesses and the expansion of a fourth.

On Tuesday, MPC granted a development permit for a new distillery in the Piper Creek Business Park, located east of Petrolia Business Park and the QEll.

The spirit manufacturing facility will be located on Larch Close, in a building adjacent to a similar distillery approved by MPC in 2018.

MPC also granted approval for an automotive vehicle sales business to be located at 172 Clearview Drive in the Clearview Industrial Park.

There will be a maximum of five vehicles for sale concurrently, with the business operated by one employee. Traffic to the site will be by appointment, with a limited number of walk-in customers.

Approval was also given for an automotive repair shop along C&E Trail located within the Central Park Area Structure Plan and Wiebe Acres Local Area Structure Plan.

County officials say the applicant is planning for an anticipated two to four vehicles per day on their property, with no outdoor storage associated with the business. The business will employ one resident and one non-resident employee.

An expansion of the Donut Mill in Gasoline Alley was also approved by MPC. The expansion will see the addition of more storage space, meeting rooms, offices, and a large freezer area.

MPC Chair Christine Moore says it’s very heartening to be able to grant these approvals in economic times such as these.

“We all know that small businesses are the backbone of the Alberta economy, roughly 90 per cent are small businesses,” says Moore. “It makes us very hopeful for the future and Red Deer County is open for business. We love nothing more than to approve these applications.”

Despite the challenging times, Moore notes, however, that Red Deer County is still continuing to grow.

“We see lots happening. Junction 42 is doing very well and that was in response to the provincial change in the highway with the new Highway 2,” adds Moore. “So our proactivity I think, and our vision for the county is very clear and we need those small businesses and large businesses, Servus has just agreed to come into Red Deer County too, so we’re very, very happy.”

Moore says for those small businesses to choose Red Deer County, speaks volumes to her and her MPC colleagues.

“There’s hope on the horizon here and I think we’re just going to go from strength to strength,” says Moore. “I get a sense things are happening and after a pretty tough 2020, I’m really optimistic that 2021 is going to bring growth, certainly in the municipality I represent.”