Sarah Olson, Town of Ponoka’s Economic Development Officer, is on a networking assignment in the State of Missouri as part of a central Alberta trade mission aimed at establishing communications, and if possible, business ties with a region of Canada’s southern neighbour with very similar characteristics with Alberta.
The one-week mission comes under an initiative of Central Alberta Access Prosperity, a regional business development grouping, supporting private sector through data provision and consulting services.
“They had this mission planned and one of the key members of their group failed to attend and we already had Alberta Flares as a local company connected to this mission. So, in their last minute search for someone to join, we got the offer,” Olson said before her departure to Missouri on Saturday, Oct 19.
“I will be there to represent the region as well as Ponoka as a municipality,” she added.
Missouri has a strong base in manufacturing, research and development as well as agriculture, according to Olson. In addition, the fact that both Alberta and Missouri provide low tax environments for businesses and Missouri being considered a future market for oil and gas exploration and development are elements that support the rationale for creating sustainable business links between the two regions.
The trade mission will return to Alberta on Saturday, Oct.26.