The Mid Sask Municipal Alliance is embarking on a new project designed to strengthen connections between companies and goods and service providers within its region. The project will ultimately create an online platform where Saskatchewan corporations can quickly identify regional business interests in Humboldt, Watrous, Watson, Lanigan, and all the other community members in its boundaries.

With more businesses migrating to online platforms, the MSMA wants a vehicle to make connections between procurement officers and providers easier. The result will be a database of regional businesses and providers that is easy for corporations or individuals to tap into. It’s a feature that’s in demand says Director of Operations and Planning for MSMA, Celine Favreau. 

“Specifically, the database will provide a system for corporate partners to promote contract opportunities and for businesses to receive notifications of new service and supply opportunities. We have had corporations come to us saying that they would like to increase their access to services and supplies within the region, but they don’t know who the businesses are and what they provide.”

One of the partners with a keen interest in local procurement is BHP whose Jansen Project is moving toward becoming operational. The company has provided $66,300 for the development of the regional online business platform. The searchable database will not only provide the names and types of businesses, but it will allow companies to directly send information about upcoming contracts or procurement needs. 

MSMA is in the process of hiring for positions to work directly with the project. The employees will contact regional businesses and service providers to create the initial database and they will help proprietors to set up and maintain their profiles in the future. 

The new business relations and project coordinator will helm the project to connect with regional businesses and facilitate the establishment of the database. Two other customer service representatives will also be hired to collect information and upload it into the database. 

Communities and chambers of commerce in the region are partnering in the project, and MSMA will be connecting with First Nations business development organizations. 

“The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce, the Watson and District Chamber of Commerce, the Watrous-Manitou Marketing Group, and Carlton Trail College. As networks across the region, we will be reaching out to businesses, communities, and organizations across the regions to make sure that everyone is fully aware of the potential of the database.”

To find out more about the available positions or about the project itself, individuals can connect with the Mid Sask Municipal Alliance at www.msmaregion.com.