Sturgeon County is home to 2,880 businesses, 97 per cent of which are small businesses. Alberta’s government is providing more than $30,000 to Sturgeon County through the Canada-Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement to support the county’s new Business Catalyst Supports Program. This program is aimed at helping small businesses attract and retain talent.

The Canada-Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement is a federal-provincial initiative designed to enhance employment opportunities and skills development for Albertans through targeted programs and services.

Launching during Small Business Week, Oct. 20-26, the Business Catalyst Supports Program will provide much needed business resources to address growing labour market shortages in Sturgeon County.

“The Business Catalyst Supports Program is crucial for rural communities. By equipping our local businesses with the tools to attract and retain talent, we are not just strengthening individual companies, we are boosting the entire community. When businesses thrive, so do our local economies, creating more jobs and opportunities for Albertans.”

Tany Yao, parliamentary secretary for Small Business and Northern Development

Sturgeon County’s Business Catalyst Supports Program, running from March 2024 to March 2026, aims to tackle critical labour market shortages by providing resources and knowledge to rural small and medium-sized enterprises. This means local businesses can become more competitive and appeal to job seekers, ultimately leading to a stronger, more vibrant community.

“One of the challenges we hear from entrepreneurs is how difficult it can be to find and keep good employees. The Business Catalyst Supports Program provides entrepreneurs with specialized market insight and resources to help them gain an edge in this competitive labour market. We're thrilled to partner with Alberta’s government and the Town of Morinville to keep building Sturgeon County as the preferred destination for business. We will continue working with our partners to create a community that provides opportunity and a place to put down roots.”

Alanna Hnatiw, mayor, Sturgeon County

As part of this initiative, Sturgeon County will release a video series featuring practical tips for local businesses on how to enhance their appeal to job seekers. Additionally, a networking event for small business owners happened on Oct. 24. This event offered a chance to connect, share insights and build valuable relationships within the community.

Quick facts

  • The Canada-Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement was created in 1996 to support economic development and small business success.
    • The full value of the grant provided by Alberta’s government is $30,114.
  • Sturgeon County’s Business Catalyst Supports Program launched in March and will operate until March 2026.
  • Small Business Week is an annual event that the Business Development Bank of Canada has supported for 45 years.
  • Small businesses make up more than 95 per cent of all businesses in Alberta, employing nearly 35 per cent of the private sector workforce and contributing to 27 per cent of the province’s GDP.
  • Almost 19 per cent of Albertans, or one in five people, are starting or have opened a business. This is much higher than the national average of about 16 per cent.
  • In 2023, the number of incorporated businesses across Alberta grew by 11 per cent compared to the year before – to a total of 55,476.

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