The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce, Drumheller Rotary Club, Travel Drumheller and Town of Drumheller and FCSS are pleased be joining forces once again on Thursday, June 11, 2020 to co-host the Celebration of Excellence at the Badlands Community Facility. The celebration will honor individuals and businesses for their achievements and contributions to the community. View all award categories and nomination forms here.

The semi-formal evening will feature cocktails and dinner followed by the awards presentation. Tickets on sale May 1.

The Town of Drumheller's popular Storefront Enhancement Grant program is now open for applications. Click here for details: https://www.dinosaurvalley.com/announcements/2020-storefront-grant-program

Deadline for applications is March 31.

Did you know that Community Futures Big Country and the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce are partnering to offer matching loans for up to $2,500? If you apply for and are approved for a Storefront Enhancement grant, you are also eligible to apply to Community Futures Big Country for an interest-free loan for up to $2,500. After successful completion of your approved project, interest on the loan will be paid by Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact:

Alison Roppel
Community Futures Big Country
(403) 823-7703
or
Heather Bitz
Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce
(403) 823-8100

On January 22, I had the pleasure of presenting my first Junior Achievement program. Twenty-two eager and engaged students in Mrs. Walker’s grade 4/5 class at Greentree School were participants in the More than Money program. Students learned the role of money in everyday life and how to track their money as they earn, spend and save. They also learned about creating a business, building a business plan and operating a business. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience sharing my knowledge and presenting the program to the students. I would encourage anyone in our community who has an interest in educating youth about business to consider being a volunteer with Junior Achievement. There are several programs offered to various school grade levels. All training and course materials are provided to volunteers. For more information, please feel free to contact me about my experience or visit their website, www.jasab.ca.

Respectfully submitted,

Heather Bitz
Executive Director

MEDIA RELEASE—January 28, 2019
For immediate release

Recommendations focus on strengthening fiscal competitiveness

The Alberta Chambers of Commerce released its recommendations for the 2020 provincial budget today. The recommendations—which were sent to Finance Minister Travis Toews—focus on strengthening Alberta's fiscal competitiveness through accountable government.

The Alberta Chambers network's recommendations for Alberta's 2020 budget follow.

1. Continue to freeze operational expenditure growth until the budget is balanced.
2. Negotiate government labour agreements due for renewal with a target of zero staffing increases and zero per cent salary increases. This target should remain in place until the currently depressed labour market has rebounded sufficiently to justify wage growth.
3. Ensure that Alberta’s small business corporate tax rate does not exceed the lowest tax rate in other Canadian provinces or territories.

The recommendations are supported by data recently collected through the Alberta Perspectives market research program, which show business confidence at both the municipal and provincial levels is suffering. More information on these findings is available here.

The Alberta Chambers' full budget submission is available here.

Each January we publish a special edition of our newsletter which looks back on the previous year. Please check out 2019 in Review (it should download a PDF) for a comprehensive look at what your local Chamber was up to in 2019!