POST publisher Rob McKinley would love to see Amazon come to Lac La Bcihe County. If a letter was to be sent to the online business giant requesting they build their next North American operation in our region. ... this would be it.
Re: Build New North American Amazon Project in Lac La Biche County
Dear Amazon.
What is the lowest bid for your new North American distribution location so far?
Lac La Biche County - in beautiful northeastern Alberta - will offer 40 per cent less!
Of course, that figure must be approved by our very progressive and business-savvy municipal councilors. But how could they argue? They know what their residents have, and though some might think our community of just 9,000 people is “punching out of its class” with this request, how else are we going to show our knockout abilities if we don’ t get in the ring.
Amazon, you need this place. It’ s a marketing dream. What better ‘hook’ for promotion and branding than bringing your massive business into a rural setting?
With an airport in our community, major highways, a railyard and strong digital technology, we have all your distribution needs covered. So why not look to the rural setting?
Are you a little troubled because of our proximity to the hustle and bustle of larger cities? Don’ t worry about it. We are about a 2-hour drive from Edmonton. Once you experience this community, you will see that distance as just close enough ... and just far enough away.
So ... where do you want to set up? We’ ve got space ... so much space.
Build by a lake. Build by a highway. Build beside our airport. Build. Build. Build.
Build with local contractors. Build with local support. Build with local taxes ... which are super low in our urban industrial areas. Actually, they’ re pretty low everywhere compared to larger centres across Canada and the US.
What else?
Cost of living in our pristine part of the world is decent too. A loaf of bread is a couple of bucks. An average-tasting bottle of wine is $10, a sheet of half-inch 4X8 plywood is $17, and a great-tasting grain-fed, Canadian bred AAA T-bone steak won’ t break the bank.
While our cost of living is decent, our quality of life is exceptional.
Your staff would love the area. All of your potential local-hire employees already do. This is a community people are proud to call home.
Sure, we’ re considered ‘rural’ , but we’ re not isolated by any means. We have a giant recreation complex where you can swim, skate, run, bike, skydive, hunt ... of course, we’ re talking about the biggest recreation area with a roof of clouds and walls of trees. The Great Outdoors is on our doorstep. You are a stone’ s throw away from wildlife, lakeside picnics and outdoor activities. If you want conventional recreation - yoga classes, exercise equipment, curling rinks, basketball and soccer fields ... we have that too with a 200,000 sq. ft. indoor recreation complex. It’ s new. It was built in 2012. It’ s pretty nice. Your Amazon operation would be a nice new fit too.
We are always trying to attract new business ... although in truth (just between you and us) we recently had a bit of trouble trying to secure a Tim Horton’ s restaurant. But we aren’ t going to focus on that - even though, this request to your company might also have the added benefit of being the best way we can think to try to secure a Timmie’ s and a few more big-name companies who would want to share in Amazon’ s good fortune.
So once again, Amazon. We are ready for you.
Honestly, we know this offer is coming from left field. It’ s also coming from outside the official channels of our provincial government. But that’ s us. We are rebels. We are adventurers. We are confident. We are trailblazers. Sound familiar?
One big question you will have - since we have already answered any concerns on taxation, building costs, staffing and quality of life - is accommodations for potentially thousands of new employees. Do we have enough accommodations for all the staff coming to our community? Right now - quite honestly ... well, no. But we’ ll build it. The incentives and opportunities we are offering Amazon will be offered to any developers helping this great and dynamic partnership. We have room to build and a community to share.
And right now, Amazon, right now is the BEST time to start the conversation about your move up here. It’ s our municipal elections!!! All the candidates are talking about being pro-business and pro-development. This really puts the money where their mouths are.
We hope to hear from you soon. On behalf of the people of the Lac La Biche region and all the candidates in our municipal election who continually say economic development is their number one priority ...
Sincerely,
Rob
Rob McKinley, Publisher La La Biche POST • 780-623-4221 • [email protected] www.laclabichepost.com
