Jamie Kramble – Investment Attraction Specialist
We have all heard the old maxim that it is not what you know but who you know matters most. While that may be a gross overgeneralization, it does hold some truth in that having good connections helps in the business world.
In Wheatland, we are fortunate to have the WC Mercantile initiative to connect the agricultural value chain – the interconnected web of farm to table that includes input suppliers, producers, processors, and retailers. There are also other initiatives underway, including planning for a potential event. The groundwork has now been laid to form and capitalize on those connections! Through the WC Mercantile initiative, your products could eventually end up on the table of the finest chefs in Calgary, Banff or beyond.
On the provincial side, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry maintains a directory of agri-food exporters used to showcase our industry when they attend international events. If you are an exporter, be sure to check out the directory at https://www.alberta.ca/directories-of-agri-food-exporters-and-contacts.aspx.
As investors become aware of the advantages of setting up shop in Wheatland County, it will become ever more critical to know who is in our backyard and their business. For example, an organic food processor may purchase locally grown vegetables or mushrooms for use in a soup mix. At the same time, our tourism trade may also be able to utilize local products in their restaurants and B&B operations; therefore, showcasing Wheatland’s excellence. Perhaps you deal with suppliers that are outside the county that could find a home here? The opportunities to connect businesses locally and regionally are unlimited.
If you are a Wheatland company that fits in somewhere on the agriculture value chain, register your business with WC Mercantile (https://infinitewc.ca/wc-mercantile/). It is a free service that provides you with publicity and makes good business sense!
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