Navigating the Business Licensing Process with Antonio Faiola, Manager, Business Experience

Operating Your Business Safely with Morgan Waker, Business Safety Peace Officer

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Calgarians love supporting local businesses. These tools will hel​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​p them find you.

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• Improving the journey from idea to opening a business in Calgary.
• Making it easier for the Film industry to do business in Calgary.
• Developing tools and online resources to assist businesses through their life-cycle.
• Continually hosting webinars  on topics of interest to small businesses
• Maintaining regular communication with the community and collaborative partners to gather insights and feedback.
• Providing free one-on-one Digital Service Squad service to eligible small business across Calgary to adopt new technologies and embrace digital marketing.
• Enabling researchers, developers, and companies to develop and test new applications and technologies in Calgary’s 5G Discovery Zone

• Created a #SupportLocalYYCcampaign to encourage Calgarians to support local businesses. As part of this, we also provided marketing resources for businesses so they too could promote buying locally.
• Provided Canada's first virtual one window approach to permitting online. We offer live chat, saving business applicants time and money.

• Approved pop-up and interim businesses in all commercial areas (another Canada first). This eliminates lengthy approval process and licensing restrictions. 
• Created a Business and Local Economy team to support businesses by finding opportunities to simplify City processes, cutting down the time and cost to start a business, and promoting innovation.
  
• Created the Business Experience Improvement Programto support people through the process to establish a small business. 
• Created a ‘Living Lab’ program to open City of Calgary assets to companies and researchers, to test and try their ideas and products.
• Created a Business Advisory Committee made up of members of the local business community.
• Established a Film Friendly team to enhance services and support for the film industry, making Calgary a premier destination for film, TV, and digital media production.
• Removed the requirement for a Development Permit in certain situations to make it easier for business owners to adapt their spaces to a new use.