Council has identified economic development as a priority. With this in mind, Council recently began a series of visits to Innisfail-based businesses.

These visits give local business owners a chance to showcase their operations while talking directly to Council. The visits also give Council a chance to gain a better understanding of the local business climate.

On March 17, co-owner Nick Bell (who runs the business with his brother Scott) hosted Council on a tour of the facility at Dark Woods Brewery. Bell, who uses as many local suppliers as possible, had a chance to explain the brewing process and identified some of the benefits and challenges of doing business in Innisfail.

With this information, Council will be able to make decisions that better suit the needs of the business community. As an example of this, Council recently approved changes that eased business licence requirements for market vendors and young entrepreneurs.

Council has more of these business visitations already scheduled, and the Town has embraced a new initiative to spur economic development through the participation of the community’s business leaders.

To read about the Town’s new economic development strategy, click here.