Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jun 19/98) - Residents of Inuvik could soon see a variety when it comes to grocery shopping.

Investors are seriously considering bringing a co-op store to Inuvik.

Stanton Distributing Company Ltd. and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., have teamed up to propose developing the Inuvik Beaufort Delta Co-operative.

And the two partners for this joint-venture are serious enough to conduct a $100,000 feasibility study partly financed by the GNWT Department of Resources Wildlife and Economic Development.

"(The site will be) across from the senior's housing facility just behind our office here between Firth and Reliance Streets. Between the town hall and ... (the) big dome," according to Mayor George Roach who fully supports the development.

"I've been well served by the Northern Store but I think competition is healthy," he said at a special noon-hour council meeting called to give the town's full approval in a final vote June 11.

The proposal first came up at a council meeting June 10.

Though plans for construction are still tentative, supporters say the partners display they mean business with their large feasibility study investment.

"It is a big deal for Inuvik," said Coun. Vince Sharpe.

"It will mean lower prices for a lot of goods."

Key ingredients of the feasibility study will be finding community support, participation from Inuvialuit and Gwich'in groups and the creation of a community-based board.

Inuvik-based Ile Royale Enterprises Ltd., will conduct the study along with Yellowknife's NWT Co-operative Business Development Fund. The two are set to complete the study using "100 per cent local employment," according to a news release.

"The town has agreed to give us an option on the property," said Stanton Distributing Ltd. president Danny Smith.

"We now have the option agreement in place and we're going forward with the balance of the work that needs to be done in order to put this together."

Smith said the feasibility study will "definitely create jobs."

And then if the project gets the go-ahead, "There will be a lot of spin-off activity from the initial construction phase and then also then during the operating."