Kainai Marketplace open for business

Monday, December 5th, 2016 5:21pm
Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox speaks with Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan at the official opening of the Kainai Marketplace on Dec. 2. Photo supplied by Alberta Indigenous Relations

A new community-owned grocery store is bringing fresh, healthy food and 24 new jobs to the Blood Tribe community.

The $6.2-million Kainai Marketplace is the only grocery store on the Blood Reserve. The province contributed $1.5 million to Kainai Marketplace through a pilot program that has since become the Aboriginal Business Investment Fund. The Blood Tribe also contributed $1.5 million and is covering the remaining costs through third-party financing.

“The Kainai Marketplace is an example of how positive collaboration between the Blood Tribe and Alberta can get a positive result towards a community need,” said Blood Tribe Chief Roy Fox.

The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund provides capital funding to Indigenous-owned businesses that are breaking ground on construction or close to starting operations. Last year, the fund provided $5 million for eight projects across the province. Alberta has earmarked another $5 million for the fund this year.