Among the initiatives that the City of Estevan has introduced in an effort to bring more economic development to the area is the Launchbox, a business incubator that would be a place for budding entrepreneurs to work in the same building and grow their businesses while leaning on the experiences of other businesspeople.
The city has now hired its business resource centre manager, Jeff Taylor, whose duties include operating the Launchbox.聽
Taylor, who started with the city March 9, brings a varied experience to the city. After studying business with a major in accounting, and an emphasis on entrepreneurship, he earned a law degree, and would practise in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.聽
His emphasis was as a solicitor, so he worked with transactions and companies, rather than going to court hearings.
Taylor has also worked with economic development agencies in New Brunswick and at the first micro-credit facility in Atlantic Canada.
Two years ago, he moved to Newfoundland to work for a startup, but wanted to come back to Saskatchewan, and found out about the Launchbox.
鈥淚t just seemed like such a great opportunity to help promote entrepreneurship in the community,鈥� he said.聽
Entrepreneurship and helping people start businesses have always been a passion, he said.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really exciting project, and it鈥檚 not very often in which you see this level of support from government of all levels, looking at doing something that鈥檚 quite unique for a place of this size.鈥�
The provincial and federal governments have supplied support for the Launchbox, in addition to the City of Estevan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a unique opportunity to make a big impact and help people start businesses,鈥� said Taylor.
He鈥檒l be tasked with helping people with starting and growing their businesses, and providing them with support, help and advice.
鈥淲hat I see as my main goals are to promote entrepreneurship in Estevan and to also to make it as affordable and efficient as possible for people in Estevan to explore their business ideas,鈥� said Taylor.
Getting into new businesses is a risk, he said, and he wants to help people mitigate that risk by giving them support and advice early on so they can hopefully grow their businesses and explore businesses without taking as much personal risk on their own.
鈥淲e can provide people with space and support and other resources that they might have to pay significant amounts for on their own.鈥�
Taylor believes the city has taken the right approach to economic development with the Launchbox.
He did some research into Estevan before coming to the Energy City, visiting the Estevan Mercury鈥檚 website, www.estevanmercury.ca, and also researched the city鈥檚 recreation facilities and leadership.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 just such an active community that I feel has a lot of good energy to try to move forward on things. It seems like it鈥檚 a really progressive community that鈥檚 working to try to figure things out.鈥�
People have been friendly and helpful, and he鈥檚 glad he has been able to walk to work a lot of days.
While COVID-19 has put the breaks on the Launchbox and other projects in the community, Taylor said he is looking forward to moving the project forward, and giving entrepreneurs the tools and the mentorship they need.聽
