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Ways You Can Support Your Local Businesses During A Pandemic

Why the pandemic means we need to support local businesses more than ever.

Everywhere we look big brands and big box stores are on display. While these large companies have the money to buy online ads or billboards it’s small businesses that most impact on our local community. And it’s small business that has been mostly impacted by the pandemic.

Small businesses color and enrich local shopping by providing unique products and services that make our local communities great places to live. No one wants to live in a neighborhood where unique local stores are replaced with For Lease signs. These small businesses also provide the lions share of employment and often employ people we know. These are our neighbors, friends, and family so it makes sense to support them, and during the pandemic, it’s more important than ever that these businesses survive for the health of our communities.

Here tips on how to support local businesses: Read more

Small Business Profile: Cilantro & Chive

Rieley Kay started Cilantro Catering in 2009, doing functions for family and friends. It was always part of their plan to expand into a restaurant as well as catering. An opportunity in Ponoka sped up this part of the plan exponentially.

The first restaurant was in Ponoka. It opened in February 2012, with 5 employees. But within a couple of years the building was sold and Cilantro and Chive’s lease came to an end. Unable to find another suitable location in Ponoka, December 15 2015 they moved to their current location in Lacombe. In the past, this spot has been a bus depot, a bike shop, a train store, antique shop and a general store. Read more

Small Business Profile: Lacombe Community Market

One of the things that interests me with my job is the different people that come and go. What kinds of business people do we have storing with us?

One business that grabs my attention is Wendy Buyar who runs the Lacombe Community Market. Read more