Chief and council for the Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man First Nation pose for a picture following Wednesday afternoon’s announcement of the new economic developments. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

New opportunity

Mosquito First Nation announces three new economic developments

Aug 22, 2019 | 9:28 AM

The Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) has announced three new economic developments.

They will embark on starting a home builders and construction company, a security company, and the Three Nations Gas Bar and Convenience Store.

The construction endeavour will begin by building 20 new homes on the reserve. With a large number of homes in need of being built in the community, the First Nation is putting together a plan to get those houses built this year.

The plan is to build the 20 homes inside a Quonset on the reserve over the winter and have them ready for families to move into sometime in the late spring or early summer.

The building for the Three Nations Gas Bar is expected to be moved on site in the next few weeks. The grand opening will likely be sometime in late October or early November.

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For the security company, the First Nation will purchase a couple of trucks. The company will provide security to First Nation businesses and buildings as well as neighboring and surrounding businesses and communities.

The community is currently working to set up in the core area that will serve as the training, employment and business centre for the community.

CEO of Economic Development for the Mosquito First Nation Gloria Lee said the goal is to have the Training and Employment Centre up and running by the end of November. She said all three developments bring with them a lot of opportunity.

“The driving idea really was to build the community up through capacity building, bringing jobs, and supporting the local economy,” Lee said. “[That goal is for] here on the reserve, but also our surrounding neighbors, our First Nations and non-First Nations businesses as well.”

Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman said the economic developments have been in the works for MGBHLM for a number of years. She said she was pleased to see all the hard work of both current and former chief and council come to fruition.

“I feel as a leader that we were able to accomplish some unfinished business from prior leaders over the last few years and their vision in moving it forward,” Aguilar-Antiman said. “I really believe that today is a huge stepping stone and a celebration and achievement as far as economic development. Since we became leaders in May, economic development was our number one priority.”

There are expected to be between 32 and 38 jobs available between the three new companies.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1