Lloydminster Economic Development Corporation

Here is a first Blog from the CEO office of the Lloydminster Economic Development Corporation! A blog seemed like a good step for LEDC to enter into the Social Media field. We haven’t quite figured out how best to apply all the options (though we did jump off the Twitter dock! - Follow us at http://twitter.com/LloydEconomy & http://twitter.com/ExperienceLloyd) to our work, but we are likely to give some combination of them a shot.

For a first topic I thought addressing some of the recognition that Lloydminster has been receiving in different media venues and from economic stakeholders across Canada over the last few years. Most recently the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) once again ranked Lloydminster as the #2 location for entrepreneurs in Canada, while back in the spring of 2011 Alberta Venture Magazine continued their annual “Best Community”. Again, Lloydminster ranks well (Click here for Lloydminster’s profile). In 2011 the report was expanded to 25 communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia – the three New West Partnership Provinces. In 2010 the Magazine did two features – a best of Alberta and a best of Saskatchewan. We ranked top ten in each Province! The 2009 report from the Magazine placed us in the top 10 in Alberta (no SK or BC report in 2009).

To site the CFIB again, their recognition of Lloydminster is not a new or one time occurrence. We are a regular top performer in their annual report titled “Communities in Boom: Canada’s Entrepreneurial Cities.” In their 2008 inaugural report Lloydminster ranked #1 in Canada, then #5 in the 2009 follow-up and climbed back to #2 in Canada in the 2010 report and 2011 report! Continuing on the small business theme, BMO Captial Markets did a study in October 2009 (BMO seems to do this study much less frequently) on SME densities called “Canada’s Small Business Juggernaut”, which itself is a follow-up to their 2005 report titled “Canada’s Small Business Hotbeds: Latest Trends” (sorry, it was published before my time with Lloydminster Economic Development and I haven’t been able to find the report, just this online article!)

So why have I brought this all to your attention? Bragging rights? Certainly a bit of bragging rights are involved, but the honest answer is this is about impartiality and legitimacy. As CEO of Lloydminster Economic Development Corporation, it’s my job to tell the World how great the economic conditions in Lloydminster are. It’s a clear mandate in the City Bylaw that authorised LEDC’s creation! So when I tell you as a business person that Lloydminster is a great location to invest or for your business to operate from, there are potentially some lingering questions. “Is it really that good? I mean, it is his job to tell me what a great economy and business opportunity is out there in the Border City!”

These documents are my ammunition to help dispel those issues. This is not me, my staff, my Board, City Council or Administration, the Chamber of Commerce, or any other person or group with a vested interest in the economic well-being of Lloydminster. The CFIB, BMO, Alberta Venture Magazine. All three are 100% independent and have no direct tie or stake in Lloydminster itself. Their analysis and statements are unbiased and with the responsibility owed back to their clients, members and readers, not to the community of Lloydminster. The authors do not have to feature Lloydminster or speak highly of the Community. But they do. And they do it regularly.

Why?

Because their analysis is right! Lloydminster is a great place to do business! Small business? We’ve over 1,500 of them! Big business likes it here too. Viterra (expanded terminals and rail spurs), ADM (Canada’s largest bio-diesel facility) and Husky Energy (new office to go along with a carbon capture program) are all expanding their investments in Lloydminster and its regional economy.

So, is Lloydminster really that good of a place for business?

Absolutely!! But don’t take my word for it (or the due diligence o the aforementioned multinationals!).

Ask Dr. Sherry Cooper, Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist, BMO Financial Group. Or check with Ted Mallett, Vice-President & Chief Economist or Queenie Wong, Research Analyst, both with the CFIB. And of course another perspective is that of Ruth Kelly and her team at Venture Publications. Go ahead.Ask them. Read their work and analysis. All have great credentials and experience that underlines the respected positions that they hold. You can take their word for it. Lloydminster is a great place for business!

Now I won’t say I told you so, but I will say it does make part of my job easier when I have opinion leaders such as these to lend support to my message.

For information on doing business or investing in Lloydminster visit www.lloydminsterdevelopment.ca.  Having learned of the opportunity at the Border City, you will potentially want to move here, so browse www.movetolloydminster.com to learn more on relocating. And to plan a scouting trip and see in person what the City has to offer, visit www.lloydminstertourism.ca.