Our Shop the County business directory is designed to help businesses in the Lac Ste. Anne region succeed by putting them on the map for all to see, and by giving them the tools to magage their own listings. It's one of the ways the County works to provide value for registered local businesses.

To get listed in the directory, and to access its tools and learning library resources, you need a valid business licence.

One of the ways the County helps local business owners succeed is via the Digital Service Squad. This is a brand new — and free — pilot program provided by the Government of Alberta in partnership with Business Link and Digital Main Street.

Got a licensed County business? You're eligible for one-on-one training on digital tools and technologies to grow your online presence and drive more traffic to your door.

There are a lot of government grants loans, loan guarantees, venture capital and other types of debt and equity opportunities out there. Wherever possible, the County filters these opportunities for local business owners.

In a great many cases, the main criteria for these opportunities is a business licence.

On the taxation side, there are numerous benefits to running a registered business. Thanks to the Government of Alberta's Recovery Plan, the Province's corporate income tax rate has been reduced to 8% as of January 1, 2022. Better yet, small businesses in Alberta pay just 2%. Alberta presently boasts the lowest general corporate tax rate in Canada by a significant margin.

More than likely, the costs of obtaining and renewing the required licenses and permits for your business at all levels (federal, provincial and local) are also tax deductible.