(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Local economy

Prince Albert’s economy in 2019, from the chamber’s perspective

Dec 31, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The CEO of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce thinks 2020 could be a very exciting year for the region.

Elise Hildebrandt is basing her statement on several announcements made in 2019, including the impending opening of a new University of Saskatchewan campus in the downtown. Hildebrandt explained the students who come to study, may help open some different doors for new business start ups.

“They are a little more into your IT and tech savvy stuff. They happen to like that the coffee shops stay open and they can go there and study,” she said.

Hildebrandt said she was also excited this year to hear another promise from the province related to a new hospital, as well as the announcement from Rio Tinto regarding the choice to exercise all of its shares options, signalling in Hildebrandt’s opinion, a more concrete plan to open a diamond mine one day.

According to Hildebrandt, the downtown revitalization got off to big start in 2019. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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Hildebrandt said another positive trend she has noticed is new businesses starting up as a direct result of bigger businesses slowing down. One example she used was a local construction company which could no longer keep a full crew of 35 or 40.

“So two of the young gentlemen started off on their own company and I was like ‘How’s it going?’ and they are like ‘You know, we have work, we are excited and we have as much as we want or as little depending on what’s going on in our family,'” she said.

When asked about the overall mood in the business community, Hildebrandt said she has heard of at least three new businesses in the downtown this year. She added business owners who reported a slowdown, also indicated to her they had no plans to close their doors.

A big anniversary awaits Hildebrandt in June, as it will mark the two-year anniversary in her current position. She said it’s much easier to speak to a business owner when you have established a connection.

“And now as a result people speak up when you ask them, how’s business going, what is new, what is exciting, what are you facing for struggles,” she said

Hildebrandt also hopes to have more chamber members in 2020, explaining the number has remained fairly consistent around 400 the past few years.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell