Southeast Saskatchewan businesses and organizations are invited to\u00a0participate\u00a0in a new certification program to better understand, measure, and\u00a0showcase\u00a0their impact on the local economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New program benefits businesses, regional economy<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) is partnering with the\u00a0Shorefast\u00a0Institute for Place-Based Economies to deliver one of the country’s first Economic Nutrition Certification programs, with support from Community Futures Sunrise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chief Executive Officer with SEDA, Verona Thibault, says\u00a0Shorefast\u00a0reached out to them following a successful pilot year in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We felt that the southeast region would be ready to go. The program itself is really targeted.\u00a0It’s very unique.\u00a0It helps organizations, businesses, non-profits, even municipalities, show where their money goes and how their spending stays within the local and regional economy and supports other businesses and jobs and communities.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the News:<\/p>\n
What makes the program unique is that the data is\u00a0showcased\u00a0in a graphic modeled after a food nutrition label. Thibault says this format will make it easier for organizations to communicate their impact\u00a0to\u00a0their market.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also\u00a0benefits\u00a0the regions surrounding participating organizations, through identifying gaps\u00a0in the supply chain and places to attract new investment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“This is\u00a0sort of beyond\u00a0‘buy local’, but it does touch on the fact that there could be a shortfall in our procurement habits in the region or even provincially.\u00a0So\u00a0that’s\u00a0the one side,\u00a0and the other\u00a0is in\u00a0looking at the gaps.\u00a0We’ll\u00a0have all these different participants,\u00a0they could be very\u00a0diverse\u00a0and it could provide a picture of\u00a0if\u00a0we have gaps in the supply chain here\u00a0and as a region, the various communities\u00a0that\u00a0could be looking to try to fill those with business startups or attracting businesses.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Applications open until August 14<\/p>\n