Participants at the first conference, held Jan. 12 and 13 at the new Sahtu centre in Norman Wells, requested another conference in April or May.

The goal of the January conference "Creating a New Partnership" was to begin planning the Sahtu region's economic future.

Peter Guther, chair of the Sahtu Business Development Centre, said: "As a region, we learned that we must work together better, create working partnerships and establish attainable goals and objectives that will develop our economy."

Guther and about 60 people attended the January conference.

Others attending were Stephen Kakfwi, economic development minister, Otto Olah, trade and investment director, Graeme Dargo, community economic development services director, Frank Pope, Norman Wells mayor and Joe Kaludjak, president of the Keewatin region's Kivalliq Partners in Development.

The Sahtu Business Development Centre, with a business loan budget of $550,000, offers financial assistance and advice to small business in the region.

Small business owners apply to their respective economic development officers who determine if the applicant should look to the Sahtu Business Development Centre for a community futures loan or to Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development for a loan through that department.