City Council on Monday started off with a presentation from the Downtown Business Association about a new program they plan to bring to the city titled 'Shop Estevan'. The program plans to help local retailers and food vendors in the area. The plan is to have exclusive opportunities for those that buy into the program to help cross-promote local businesses through a number of different means. 

While the entire representatives of the entire DBA were present, and Robert Godfrey spoke on their behalf as they asked for $20,000 in start-up costs, which they were later approved for.

"We really arrived at this because so often we hear and this has been a discussion on the DBA about people saying, 'You know I had no idea I could buy these things, in Estevan' It's available right here in Estevan, and with customer service that you just don't find in larger centres. It's so personalized and unique."

The program will be available to all retail and food vendors in the city, not just those in the downtown area. Businesses that sign on are going to be able to be apart of exclusive promotions to Shop Estevan members, a large social media campaign, be a part of the website that is being built so that Estevan shopping can be found all in one place, and a number of other things.

"It just is another Ave for businesses to promote their business and the other part of this is it's a centralized ave for people to do it right now. If you want to see what's going on in shopping and Estevan, you kind of have to know who you're searching for, so Shop Estevan is that one-stop-shop where people that are looking for shopping can just come on to our social media."

As you may expect from the funding being granted, the council was all in favour immediately.

"Where do I sign?" said Councilor Greg Hoffort. "This is a good initiative in good times and boom times, and it's even more important in these times. It's helping us help ourselves, and the business community in Estevan is legendary for their support they give to everything that goes on in this community and to pull off what you're doing for $20,000, that's money well spent."

Councilor Shelly Veroba also had high praises for the plan put in place.

"I think it looks excellent and I applaud you all for getting involved in this because back when I first moved here in 88, I actually was in retail with fine foods in the mall. Loved it and Dennis George was the owner of at that time and he was a very, very huge advocate in shop local and so just right from that day One. I've always been an advocate for shop local so."

Shop Estevan is starting to roll out now as the social media pages have been created, and a website and other details are coming down the road. The program is set to begin at the start of October.