Corporation expands business on settlement

Page 15

The Fishing Lake Development Corporation (FLDC) is closer to its goal of financial independence from the province.

As a result of taking over oil and lease building operations on the settlement, corporation directors have been able to expand the settlement-owned business largely through funds generated by these contract agreements.

The million dollar business established three years ago continues to expand. An $85,000 D8 Caterpillar was recently added to the growing list of machinery inventory, making the corporation more competitive and versatile to better meet increasing demands.

"Oil companies were coming in and bringing outside contractors and not employing any of our men," said Clifford Calliou, one of the directors.

"We wanted to employ more of our settlement people," said Bruce Desjarlais, chairman of the board of directors. "Our people were just on the pick and shovel end of it, if they got hired at all.

"When we first got on council we didn't even have any equipment for the settlement to build basements," he said.

"Now, before we sign an agreement to give them (oil companies) the right of entry, we set down conditions. We take most of the contracts, if they're not too big, and we do the hiring -- sometimes hiring sub contractors," said Calliou.

Initially working out of an ATCO trailer and with only a D6 Caterpillar purchased through the Settlement Investment Corporation )SIC), the FLDC began working to train local operators.

"Nine months later we bought a D7 (Caterpillar) with straight cash with what we made from the D6," boasted Desjarlais.

The directors have not looked back since, despite some financial road blocks along the way.

After successful negotiation for the settlement road maintenance contact with Alberta Transportation, the directors identified a need to upgrade their grader and elected to purchase a second machine. But local financial institutions saw the business as a high risk and refused their application, forcing them to go out of province for funding.

When plans for new office and shop space were proposed, the FLDC again faced financial rejections locally as well as provincially, save for a small loan through SIC.

"The shop was built through the (Fishing Lake) Pasture, Waskayigun and Development (association)" said Calliou. "We were using all entities we could to get it (the shop) off the ground."

The 4,000 sq. ft., $100,000 shop is paid for today less than one year after construction began.

Desjarlais was eager to point out the most recent Caterpillar was purchased in part with a loan from the same local lending institution that previously turned them down.

"We've established credibility," said Calliou.

Increased employment for settlement members has been another benefit of the FLDC.

"The corporation was set up as an economic vehicle for the community," said settlement administrator Garry Parenteau. "It's set up for employment rather than having to depend on make-work programs.

"Last year we had three positions in make-work programs compared to past years when we had up to 20. And we had more people working. They take pride in what they're doing." he said.

"I'm very proud of our staff," said Desjarlais. "We have to be set up and running like a business; we can't be running on a shoestring. We don't depend on the government," he said.