Business licensing
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Last year we explored the possibility of implementing a business licensing program for all businesses in the Nisku Business Park and on Edmonton International Airport land. From Sept. 23 to Oct. 21, 2020, an online survey was conducted to gather feedback from the broader business community. We heard from 87 business owners in the project area, who gave their input on the proposed program.
Business licences provide municipalities with metrics on yearly growth and development and access to business contacts for engagement and promotion. They allow for better understanding of economic trends, and assist in collecting important statistics about business activities which could impact municipal policy decisions and enable better support for businesses in the county.
On top of providing the county with valuable information on growth and devleopment metrics and better access to our business community, the county wants to build a program that would be beneficial to businesses.
Licensing benefits businesses by:
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Allowing the county to share information about our employment base, like employment statistics, opening and closures of businesses, import and export information, and more.
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Showing customers that the business is operating legally.
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Providing credibility and validity to businesses with accreditation.
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Supporting economic development programming, which in turn supports business growth and investment attraction.
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Providing the county with better resources for communicating and creating public participation opportunities.
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Informing emergency services about hazardous materials and employment numbers for more accurate response.
As an added benefit, it was proposed that each business would also receive a membership to the Leduc, Nisku and Wetaskiwin Regional Chamber of Commerce at no additional cost, which would give them access to statistical information, education, discounts, promotional support and networking opportunities.
WHAT WE HEARD
The report linked below details the feedback received, which will be used to inform further discussions on the future of business licensing in Leduc County and will guide any additional public participation planning on the subject.
Timeline
- Public engagement: online survey
Sept. 23 to Oct. 21, 2020- Review of public feedback
Oct. 22 to Nov. 2, 2020- Council decision to postpone project
Nov. 24, 2020- Implementation of voluntary Business Registry
Ongoing
NEXT STEPS
We've partnered with the Leduc, Nisku and Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce to gather information from businesses in the project area through a free, voluntary online business registry as an alternative to a business licensing program for 2021.
Thank you to everyone who have participated in both projects - your feedback is appreciated!