Steinbach Chamber of Commerce to set up advisory committee

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This article was published 28/12/2024 (665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce will set up an advisory committee in order to lobby government and identify what issues are impacting the local business community.

“We’re going to start small and then we want to see it grow and basically their tasks are going to be to find out from the business community what are the important things that are happening, where there may be some gaps where the chamber can be a voice for, and we’re going to build it from there,” said executive director Tessa Masi.

Two issues facing Steinbach businesses are buying local and bringing in young entrepreneurs and retaining that young workforce. In the past decade, more than 23,000 youth ages 15 to 34 have left Manitoba for another province, according to a study by the Canada West Foundation.

“My personal opinion is that I think they’re moving to different cities because we’re not telling them about the opportunities here. We’re not bragging about the career path that you could have instead of getting a job after high school and then moving somewhere else.

“When we show young people here at an even earlier age than high school the opportunity to have a thriving career here in a growing community, they’re going to start staying. We need to start telling our story better and telling it to the young people specifically,” said Masi.

The chamber visits the local high school to promote entrepreneurship, as well, it hosts its annual Chamber Challenge every April, where teens participate in a Dragon’s Den competition to see who has the best business model to win cash prizes.

Masi said immigration has definitely benefited the city in filling necessary jobs. She was also asked if there is enough business diversity in Steinbach to retain workers.

“I think that Steinbach has a beautiful range of diversity and we just need to tell our story more and show people the opportunities that are here.”