The Melfort Business Revitalization Corporation was initially mainly focused on Main Street Melfort, but that has been changed and now includes all Melfort businesses. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Business Revitalization

“There is a need for a business group in Melfort”: MBRC holds Annual General Meeting

Oct 17, 2019 | 8:24 AM

The Melfort Business Revitalization Corporation held their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Kerry Vickar Centre. While there were some administrative issues to clear up, it was also an opportunity to hear about a new way forward.

Financial reports for the previous year showed that the group does have some money in the bank, giving them some flexibility. Also, the group did a few housekeeping procedures such as removing the Melfort Chamber of Commerce from the membership portion of the Articles of Incorporation. That is due to the Chamber essentially sitting in the hands of the Canada Revenue Agency. The MBRC also made a wording change, switching the “downtown Melfort” portion of their Articles of Incorporation to include “Melfort business districts”, which allows more businesses to be part of the group. Previously, due to provincial funding, the group needed to have a designated “Main Street” area. Since that funding has been cut, the designation is no longer needed.

Meanwhile, numerous business owners and managers were in attendance to talk about what they would like to see out of a business group, something they believe is needed.

“I think it was wonderful to see so many businesses here tonight and the wide diversity of the people that came out,” board member Tara Muntain said. “That shows there’s definitely a need to have a business group in Melfort.”

The next step for the MBRC will be to figure out their identity in an interesting time in the business community of Melfort. Muntain said as a group, they really have control as to what businesses need and want.

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“We’re going to need to make this business group provide what we need for our businesses,” she said. “Whether that’s a name of a new chamber, or whether that’s a name of a Melfort business group, it’s something that we’re going to be able to get together, all of us, our heads together and figure it out.”

One of the things they will be talking about is membership and how to keep financially stable. Muntain said that will be part of their discussions as a board. It was mentioned at the AGM that they could register as a new chamber, which would mean some help in that department.

The group holds numerous events through the year, including the car show, Touch a Truck, the Back Alley Tour and more, which not only brings in funds for the group, but traffic into businesses and the community.

Muntain said they have lots of support from people outside the board to help on committees such as the Promotion Committee to put on events like that.

As well as discussions on the future of the MBRC, the group chose nine board members for 2020. The only one remaining from the previous board was Muntain. She said there’s lots of positivity with the new line-up.

“Every single one of these people that are on the board is bringing fresh new ideas and a drive to make Melfort great,” Muntain said.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6