LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
It's about communication and building up businesses in the village.

Mary-Ann Hannaford-Tate was hired late last year to serve as a full-time staffer for the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

That's the goal of adding a full time staff member for the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.

"The position is to take ideas that community businesses have and to make them happen because we're all running our businesses so now that person can do the leg work we might not have time for," said chamber president Angela Fiebelkorn.

Kirby Groat, whose businesses - including Deh Cho Suites - are part of the chamber, said he likes having a staff person for the chamber.

"It's actually been working out quite well," he said. "I'm ecstatically happy about this."

Trying to run the chamber on a volunteer basis can be tough, he said.

Having an employee full time means being able to be much more supportive to businesses.

Mary-Ann Hannaford-Tate has been in the staff position since December and is now running an effort to boost membership at the 26-member chamber.

"Our chamber phone rings regularly from outsiders looking for services," Fiebelkorn said. "If they're members, then the company (looking for a local service) can be referred to a local business."

Next week, anyone with a business will get a membership package in the mail.

"We're hoping people will become members and get involved. We've had some good success in the last few years," Fiebelkorn said.

The last time Fiebelkorn counted the registered businesses in the village a few years ago, the total was more than 100, many home-based businesses.

Chambers of commerce in communities across the country generally promote their area to those who may set up shop or potential residents. As well, they advocate for business interests, speaking out on issues of general concern.

One example was the chamber asking Northwestel to utilize an existing tower when expanding the cell service network.

Another advocacy project has seen chamber leaders push the GNWT to improve highways connecting communities in the Deh Cho.

And that's not all Fiebelkorn has in the works.

"One of the things we'd like to do is a trade show," she said.

Once membership drive is done, she said it would be held here, bringing in bigger companies to meet the village's businesses.

"I figure if we can bring everyone together in one place, there will be more communication and more talk about the needs," she said.

As well, she hopes showing community residents nearby services outside companies might be interested in using can encourage more businesses to start up.

"We want to really promote our local skills here so they (outside companies) don't have to bring in outside work," she said.

While the chamber had sought to get workspace in the Visitor Information Centre building, village council turned down the request.

So for now, Hannaford-Tate continues to work from an office in the back of the Liidlii Kue First Nation building.