Business View Civil and Municipal | April 2021

104 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL ARIL 2021 The leading ready-mix concrete provider in the Pembina Valley area since 1973. 485 East View Drive, Winkler, MB R6W 4A8 www.winklerconcrete.ca (204) 325-8852 “Some of the larger industries came to me asking how they could help. We pooled together some money and through The Winkler District Chamber of Commerce, businesses could apply for these funds.” Larger industries donated over $75,000, with the city and Chamber each matching $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. Ultimately, 22 local mom and pop stores were chosen to receive a portion of the $150,000. Harder shares, “We bought gift certificates between $3,000 and $15,000 from each business. These struggling independent shops got a hand up compliments of the city, Chamber, and their fellow entrepreneurs.” This supportive spirit highlights the city as a new business incubator. “We have an interesting model in Winkler,” Harder states. “We’re here to create an environment where businesses thrive through our tax rates, services, and expertise. Our community is known as a hub where we build off of each other. We support the individual company already manufacturing something.” He gives the example of Ironmen Industries’ Hot Hand Wash Mobile Sanitation Station, developed at the beginning COVID. It provides warm water in -30 degrees Celsius, using plastic parts, electrics, manufacturing, and steel design. Ironmen credited all the local companies responsible for each component. Penner adds, “In 2018, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) named Winkler the second-best entrepreneurial city in Canada. That ranking was based on the degree that municipalities enable entrepreneurs to grow and prosper.” Thriving businesses lead to rising populations, which is certainly true for Winkler. Scott Toews, Director of Planning & Engineering, reports that in terms of projected population growth, “Our long-term average is between two and half to three percent. We don’t see that slowing down in our permit numbers. It’s consistent with the amount of new housing we’ve seen. Regarding housing stock, we’re growing very quickly.” Most of the new housing subdivision lots have sold