d t
Business Supports
Business Diversity
2017
*Data sourced from Town of High River
The Town of High River welcomes all businesses! COMPETITIVE
BUSINESS LICENSE FEES
$120 RESIDENT
*FREE IF YOU ARE UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE*
$300
NON-RESIDENT
Some Neighbouring communities range from $245 and up
# OF NEW BUSINESSES
TYPE OF The(2017) Community’sBUSINESS Voice on LICENSE Business Type (NAICS Code) Business and Economy (ALL ACTIVE, 2017) Construction - 69 3%
Manufacturing - 7
26%
Retail Trade - 13 Transportation and warehousing - 1 Information - 1
946
35%
TOTAL BUSINESS LICENSES
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing - 4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services - 4
36%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services - 16
I love the diversity of new businesses in town. It is an interesting mix of# YEARS different IN BUSINESS things that would attract # OF BUSINESS LICENSES people to town. I would like to encourage more of that! Home Occupation In-Town
Educational Services - 1
Health Care and Social Assistance - 4
Out-of-Town
Arts and Entertainment - 2
MD Resident
Accommodation and Food Services - 9 Other Services (except Public Administration) - 6
(HIGH RIVER BASED BUSINESSES) 22%
58%
(IN-TOWN BUSINESSES)
578
570
570
555
546
20%
531 20 years and over 10 years and over 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Under 10 years
Have a business idea for High River but don’t know where to start? Contact business@highriver.ca
Education BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
1,178 PROGRAM INQUIRIES ADDRESSED
(June 2016 to July 2017)
38
GRADUATES OBTAINED POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA
TOP 3 OPPORTUNITIES / SUPPORTS BUSINESSES HAVE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES (INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA) WORD OF MOUTH AND REFERRALS REPUTATION
FOOTHILLS BUSINESS SURVEY
All business participants stated that “attitudes of co-workers” were not major challenge when hiring an individual with a disability. Source Foothills SNAPS YOUTH Junior Achievement business & entrepreneur classes. - 66 Classes Delivered - 18 Schools Participated - 100 Volunteers Engaged - 4 Regional Leadership Council Supported Operations *Note these are for the Foothills Region including the MD of - $17,050 raised
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE AVAILABILITY OF BUSINESS SUPPORT?
C+
WORKPLACE SUPPORTS - Alberta Learning Information Service
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS - ATB Financial - Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) - BMO - CIBC - RBC
- Scotiabank - Servus Credit Union - TD Bank - Western Financial
- The business centre - High River and District Chamber of Commerce (Currently 148 Members) - McBride Career Group - Community Futures Highwood (Approved 71 loans in the foothills area and 18% of loans were provided to clients in High River ) - Foothills SNAPS
Six hundred and twenty-seven (627) residents participated in the survey. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.8%, 19 times out of 20. Data has also been sourced from the following external sources: Statistics Canada and The Town of High River.
COMPETITIVE
BUSINESS LICENSE FEES
$120 RESIDENT
*FREE IF YOU ARE UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE*
$300
NON-RESIDENT
Some Neighbouring communities range from $245 and up
# OF NEWCommunity’s BUSINESSES TYPE on OF The Voice (2017) BUSINESS LICENSE
Business and Economy (ALL ACTIVE, 2017)
Construction - 69
3%
Manufacturing - 7
LEGAL SUPPORTS - Centre for Public Legal Education in Alberta - The Law Society of Alberta Lawyer Referral - Better Business Bureau
26%
Retail Trade - 13
“I felt High River would be a good community to set up a business and my business is a good fit for the community.”
- Small Business Resources - Starting a business - Operating a business
Transportation and warehousing - 1 Information - 1
946
35%
TOTAL BUSINESS LICENSES
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing - 4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services - 4
36%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services - 16
I love the diversity of new businesses in town. It is an interesting mix of#different YEARS IN BUSINESS things that would attract # OF BUSINESS LICENSES people to town. I would like to encourage more of that! Home Occupation In-Town
Educational Services - 1
Health Care and Social Assistance - 4
Out-of-Town
Arts and Entertainment - 2
MD Resident
Accommodation and Food Services - 9 Other Services (except Public Administration) - 6
(HIGH RIVER BASED BUSINESSES) 22%
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA - Small Business Financing Program – Industry Canada - Business Development Bank of Canada - Employment Insurance Work Sharing Program – Service Canada
The Community’s Voice on Business and Economy The “High River Vital Focus: The Community’s Voice on Economy and Business” survey was conducted online between June 15 to July 12, 2017. The link was promoted within High River and open to all residents. The survey was based on a “self-selected” respondent population, therefore, the results should be considered as representative of ‘interested residents’ but may not be representative of all High River residents.
The Town of High River welcomes all businesses!
Business Type (NAICS Code)
GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA - Bow Valley College
2017
*Data sourced from Town of High River
- Alberta Works
Foothills and MD of Willow Creek
LOCAL AGENCIES
Business Diversity
Vital Signs® is a community check-up conducted by foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada and with special thanks to the Toronto Foundation for developing and sharing the Vital Signs concept. For more information visit www.vitalsignscanada.ca The Vital Signs trademark is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada. Kalie Mosig - Research and Content Lead | Kevin Tetzlaff - Report Design If you have any questions about the Vital Focus please contact Kalie Mosig by e-mail at kmosig@highriver.ca or over the phone at 403-603-3560.
58%
(IN-TOWN BUSINESSES)
578
570
570
555
546
20%
531 20 years and over 10 years and over 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Under 10 years
Have a business idea for High River but don’t know where to start? Contact business@highriver.ca
Education BOW VALLEY COLLEGE
1,178 PROGRAM INQUIRIES ADDRESSED
(June 2016 to July 2017)
38
GRADUATES OBTAINED POST-SECONDARY CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA
Local Business
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE THE AFFORDABILITY OF OWNING A BUSINESS IN HIGH RIVER
SAID SHOPPING LOCAL % WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM
OF BUSINESSES PLAN TO GROW IN NEXT 5 YEARS
PERCEIVED BARRIERS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS
RESIDENTS LEAVE HIGH RIVER TO PURCHASE...
TOTAL POPULATION
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR (100%) GROCERIES (34%) ELECTRONICS (23%)
$16,742
Those that have lived in High River for more than 10 years were more likely to select that they cannot purchase an item or service locally than those who have lived in High River less than 1 year.
HOUSES SOLD
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS BY TYPE (2017)
“I love the community and the vibe of the town and I want to be part of it.”
2016
50
2017
GRADE THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IN HIGH RIVER
GRADE THE STRENGTH OF HIGH RIVER BUSINESS COMMUNITY 17%
17%
AVERAGE GRADE WAS C+ 12%
12%
Accessory Buildings
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
5%
5%
4%
4%
3% A+
7%
6%
D
D-
2%
1%
F
A+
Employment *Data sourced from Vital Focus survey, except when stated otherwise
82%
9%
8%
WOULD PREFER TO WORK IN HIGH RIVER IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
BARRIERS TO FINDING LOCAL EMPLOYMENT LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES IN MY FIELD (38%) WAGES NOT COMPETITIVE (24%) LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE MY AGE (21%)
3%
A
4%
2% A-
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
Recreational, Institutional, Government Rezoning & Amendments
Jan
Feb
D-
F
Mar Apr
45%
May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Foothills School Division Town of High River Western Financial Group High River Hospital Highwood Golf & Country Club Seasons Retirement Communities High River Sobey's Canadian Tire Farmboy Landscaping & Maintenance Tim Hortons (both locations combined) *Town of High River data, based on number of full time employees
Nov Dec
Change of Occupation
HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A BARRIER FINDING LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
11% 11% 11%
Wholesale & Retail Trade Administrative & Support
9%
Construction
8% 8% 8% 7%
Educational Services Professional, Scientific & Technical Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing Government
6% 5% 5% 5% 5%
Arts & Entertainment Social Profit / Social Services Transportation & Warehousing Managment Accommodation & Food Services
4%
Agriculture
3% 3%
Manufacturing Mining & Oil and Gas Social Assistance Utilities Other
0.7% 0.5%
- SIMPLIFIES PROCESSES - MORE FLEXIBLE RANGE OF USES - ENCOURAGES MIXED DEVELOPMENT REDUCED LAND USE DISTRICTS TO ONLY SIX (FROM OVER 30)
11 16 1 1 1
Adopted in April 2017
“Moving to High River has given me the WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRIES opportunity to recover. It has been one of ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO WORK IN? the best business moves that I have made.”
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOUR ABILITY TO HIRE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE
WHAT INDUSTRY ARE YOU WORKING IN? Health Care
TOP TEN EMPLOYERS
5
INNOVATIVE LAND USE BYLAW
1
Signage
2% B+
1
Commercial
Home Occupations
12%
10%
6
Multi Family
20
AVERAGE GRADE WAS C+
15%
29
Single Family
Industrial
10
$25,000
-Goods and services purchased in High River DONATED BY TIN STAR FOR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES -Leasing or renting venues -Donations towards community projects”
FROM HEARTLAND, TIN STAR, VEHICLE DYNAMICS GROUP AND SUBARU CANADA
60
BETTER SELECTION/CHOICES CAN’T FIND ITEM LOCALLY BETTER PRICES
Plus many other contributions to the
community including: DONATED TO COMMUNITY VITALITY FUND -Wages for local background performers AND PUBLIC ART FUND -Funds for disruption of businesses
30
7%
DOWNTOWN OCCUPANCY HAS INCREASED BY 28% OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS
13,584
FILM AND TELEVISION
40
5%
STATISTICS CANADA 2016
COMMERCIAL SPACE BUILT SINCE 2015
1. Increase High River’s profile 2. Grow the local business community 3. Increase number of living wage jobs
FACEBOOK (56%) NEWSPAPER (50%) FLYERS (44%)
TOP REASONS RESIDENTS SAY THEY LEAVE TOWN TO MAKE PURCHASES
CUSTOMER BASE AFFORDABILITY/FINANCING MARKETING
14%
$78,773
260,000 sq. ft.
TOWN OF HIGH RIVER’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
STATISTICS CANADA 2016
MORE IMPORTANT TO THOSE 45 YEARS OR OLDER THAN FOR RESIDENTS AGED 25-30
14%
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
*Data sourced from Town of High River, except when stated otherwise
TOP 3 WAYS CITIZENS PREFER TO HEAR FROM BUSINESSES
SHOPPING LOCAL
57%
Economic Development
Tip... You can try to negotiate your lease with your landlord or speak with a real estate agent
*Data sourced from Vital Focus survey
66
C+
23% VS 4%
B-
(WHETHER YOU ARE WORKING OR NOT)
36%
Administrative & Support
28% 25% 24%
Managment Accommodation & Food Services
SELF-EMPLOYED IN HIGH RIVER SELF-EMPLOYED OUTSIDE HIGH RIVER
Wholesale & Retail Trade
19% 17% 16% 16% 14% 14% 14%
Educational Services Health Care Finance, Insurance, Real Estate & Leasing Professional, Scientific, Technical Government Arts & Entertainment Construction
10% 10% 9% 9% 8%
Social profit / Social Services
30% VS 16%
Agriculture
EMPLOYED IN HIGH RIVER
18%
EMPLOYED OUTSIDE HIGH RIVER
Mining & Oil and Gas Transportation & Warehousing Manufacturing Social Assistance Service Industry Utilities Child Care Other
4% 4% 3% 0.7% 2%