Building a City Where Small Business Thrives
Rajah near West Glenora Block, where many businesses have been impacted by Valley Line West construction
Small businesses are the heartbeat of Ward Nakota Isga. They’re the corner cafés where neighbours gather, the shops that know you by name, the services that keep our communities running, and the entrepreneurs who take risks to bring vibrancy to our streets. They’re situated along our main streets, within our malls, and sprinkled throughout our big box store developments. These small businesses are vital to the fabric of Edmonton and make our communities unique from one another.I’ve been meeting with business owners across the ward, and while their commitment to our communities is inspiring, they’ve told me one thing loud and clear: it’s not always easy to survive, let alone grow, in Edmonton’s current system.That needs to change. And I’m ready to help lead that change.
What I’ll Do:
Prioritize local businesses in city procurement.
Offer training to help small businesses grow and connect with talent.
Ensure diverse, balanced commercial spaces in all neighborhoods.
Enforce developer commitments for commercial spaces.
Provide financial relief and clear communication during construction.
Address homelessness and poverty to reduce business disruptions.
Improve streetscapes to create walkable, inviting areas.
Support local events by easing permitting and costs.
Want to know more about what real support for small business looks like? Keep reading!
Rajah with Gracie of Gracie’s Place, on Stony Plain Road
Prioritizing and Strengthening Local Businesses
I want to see our small businesses not only survive but grow — and that means giving them the opportunities to provide services and the tools to adapt to a changing economy.Putting Local Businesses First
Across Canada, there’s momentum to support Canadian businesses. Let’s make sure Edmonton is leading the way by becoming a catalyst for local buying and business investment at the neighbourhood level. Because when small businesses thrive, our whole community thrives. The City’s and local organization’s procurement practices should reflect the new economic reality we’re living in and prioritize the local, while also still respecting aims to enhance interprovincial trade like the New West Partnership Trade Agreement.Offering A Helping Hand to Strengthen Local Businesses
Training programs can help mom-and-pop shops build their online presence, reach new customers, and compete in a digital economy. This can help make them the vendor of choice for other businesses and local governments. We can also connect local businesses with our city’s post-secondary institutions, tapping into young talent and keeping that talent here in Edmonton.
KC Bakess, a delicious Filipino bakery in Westgate
Supporting Local in Every Corner of the Ward
Our business community should reflect the diversity and creativity of our city. I want to ensure we have a mix of locally owned and operated businesses, not just large chains or predatory storefronts. Every neighbourhood should have the essential services that residents need, and the amenities that residents want.Sticking To The Plan
When new communities are built, we need to set aside space specifically for local businesses — places where people can walk, connect, and support their neighbours. And we should be asking residents what types of businesses they want to see in their own backyards. The City Plan and District Plans call for this kind of development through creating neighbourhoods with everything you need within a short walk, roll, bike, or transit ride from home. We should continue to move forward on implementing this plan to achieve those goals.Developer Accountability
If developers attempt to scale back or reduce the level of commercial development they’ve committed to in neighbourhood planning documents, the City should not approve these changes. Alternatively, the City should ensure developers meet their commitments to create commercial spaces through other means.
Rajah at Bestie Ice Cream in Crestwood, solar-powered and new to the neighbourhood. NOW OPEN!
Helping Businesses Weather Disruption
City construction is sometimes necessary to grow, but it can also be devastating for nearby businesses. If your storefront is blocked for weeks or months, you’re losing customers — but still paying full property taxes. That’s not fair. On the other hand, social disorder related to the housing crisis and mental health and addictions also disrupts businesses. We need to tackle both of these issues in a thoughtful way to mitigate impacts on local businesses.Targeted Financial Support
When major city projects disrupt access to local businesses — especially long-term projects like the LRT — the impacts can be devastating. If we pay property owners when we expropriate for construction, we should also find ways to compensate business owners for the revenue they lose during these disruptions.As your councillor, I will make a strong, evidence-based case to City Council that investing in our businesses during these projects isn’t optional — it’s essential. We’ve already invested heavily in infrastructure like the LRT. To truly see a return on that investment, we must ensure the surrounding businesses survive long enough to benefit from it. That means targeted financial support, fair tax relief, and policies that help local businesses weather the storm.Better Communication
Businesses rely on certainty to make orders, provide services, and establish business plans. Communication is key. We’ve taken some steps forward in recent years, but it’s not enough. Businesses deserve clear timelines, advance notice, better signage during construction, and easy access for customers.Tackling the Root Causes of Homelessness, Addictions, and Poverty
Urgently building housing can help stabilize those experiencing homelessness. Enhancing the quality and quantity of social support can be life-changing for those on the fringes of society. To stop the disruption caused by those who are most impoverished in our communities, we should do everything we can to end poverty.
Traffic detours directing drivers to businesses, due to construction along Stony Plain Road
Creating Vibrant Business Districts
A strong business community is also about the environment around it. We are attracted to visit certain parts of the City due to their unique vibe and pleasant experience. The City should work to improve these spaces in the public realm to support economic vitality in private businesses.Build Better Streets and Public Spaces
We can invest in streetscapes that encourage walkable neighbourhoods — with benches, trees, lighting, and other beautification projects that invite people to linger and connect. We can look at how to make large-format developments and strip malls more human-scaled and welcoming, turning them into real community hubs.Attract Customers to Storefronts
The City should act as a partner in streetscape activation. They should connect the dots between the local organizations hoping to activate our main streets, strip malls, and parking lots and the local businesses who want to attract more customers to their door step through farmer’s markets, festivals, and more. The City should reduce permitting costs, remove requirements for unneeded traffic enforcement policing services, and set-up pre-approved areas to prioritize these kinds of events.Dedicate A Vibrancy Fund for Stony Plain Road
Just as Chinatown and Downtown have dedicated funding to enhance vibrancy and economic activity, Stony Plain Road deserves similar investment. A targeted fund could support beautification, marketing, and activation efforts that draw people in, keep storefronts thriving during construction, and help this corridor reach its full potential as a vibrant business destination.
A RAJAH MAGGAY campaign sign, proudly displayed at Pinoy Ave on Stony Plain Road
