Yellowknife (July 16/03) - Businesses are on the rise in Yellowknife.

So far this year, the city has licenced 133 new businesses.

That's an increase of 32 compared to last year's numbers.

It's also an increase of $13 million in value. The total value of commercial building permits so far is just over $28.6 million, up from the $15.7 million for the first six months of 2002.

"We are putting pretty big numbers for the size of our town and I think that is attracting more interest," said Glenn Peterson, manager of building inspections with the city of Yellowknife.

Of the new licences, 60 were for commercial businesses and 73 were for home businesses.

The city has issued six building permits for new commercial buildings, doubling the number for the first half of 2002.

Ten other businesses have added on to their existing businesses. Last year at this time, only two had additions put on.

Commercial permits for this year include the Co-op addition, the new Extra-Foods building and the jail, as well as the Quizno's building on Old Airport Road.