Owners of local businesses and others interested in seeing the area continue to grow attended the Oxbow and District Business Association (OBA) breakfast meeting held Jan. 17 at the Oxbow Legion.
The meeting had three purposes: to promote the OBA and encourage others to join, to share information about the Town’s new website and how businesses can have a site of their own on it, and to learn about the various training the Southeast Regional College can offer to the community.
The 12 people attending represented a variety of businesses – from farming and masonry to investments and small home-based operations.
Mel Flahr, chairman of the OBA, said the business association started in 1976. The goals then were similar to those of today – to promote the community and its businesses.
The OBA is committed to attracting new businesses, providing training and learning opportunities, and promoting and supporting community events. Membership in the OBA is open to anyone in the district with a business, large or small. Oxbow, alone, has more than 58 businesses in town plus many smaller home-based businesses. The association hopes that many of these businesses will consider joining the organization.
Prior to the meeting the association only had about 10 active members. That hadn’t stopped them from moving ahead though, as they have already started making plans for a Trade Show which will be held in April.
Lorri Solomon, community development officer, talked about the Town’s new website, and mentioned how businesses and non-profit organizations could have a site on it.
Ken Shackel, Paula Haygarth and Faye Billington from the Southeast Regional College presented information about the variety of programs the college offers.
They would like to get some programs going in Oxbow, and are trying to determine what type of training is needed, who might be available to instruct, and where the classes could be held.
The type of courses that can be offered is pretty much unlimited, with some examples being computer skills, English as a Second Language and agriculture courses.
