According to the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, the multiplex project will provide many indirect economic benefits all over the Friendly City.
Currently, Edmonton-area company Midwest Caissons is digging holes and filling them with concrete at the downtown multiplex location, which is a process called piling.
Todd Smith, Midwest Caissons Inc. multiplex project manager, told the Times-Herald his company has 12 people piling at the multiplex sites, including five from various parts of Saskatchewan, two from the local area and five from Edmonton.
He said all the workers are staying at the Super 8 Motel, which sells rooms for approximately $89 if one person stays in the room per night and about $93 if two people stay in the room. Smith said the Edmonton-based company would probably be in Moose Jaw another month before it completes piling at the two multiplex sights.
The company started work on Aug. 5. Assuming it spends a total of six weeks working in the city, that means the workers not from this area could spend about $37,380 on hotel rooms if each one of them gets their own room. If the workers sleep two to a room, that would equal about $19,530.
Brian Martynook, Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce executive director, said many Moose Javians might not realize the economic spinoffs from the multiplex construction will impact all corners of Moose Jaw.
Aside from the large amount of money out-of-town workers will pay simply for local accommodations while working on the project, Martynook said Midwest Caissons workers would have to buy food locally during their stay, would need to buy fuel and would likely spend money on local recreational activities.
He added other out-of-town companies receiving multiplex subcontracts and bringing in staff for the multiplex project would have to spend money likewise.
According to Martynook, much of the $61.3 million multiplex costs will go towards wages and much of that money will remain in the city.
As an example, he said if out-of-town workers spend money at local restaurants, the increased business allows those restaurants to spend more money. If the increased business results in the restaurant owner hiring an additional server, that's another person who will be making money to spend in the city.
He said a local person reaping the benefits of increased economic activity due to people working on the multiplex might use his or her increased profits to build an addition to his or her garage, which requires buying supplies and hiring contractors that further adds to the economic spinoff from the multiplex.
"It's very much a trickle-down effect."
Aside from out-of-town workers feeding money into the community, Martynook said the multiplex also helps the local economy through any local people who find work directly with the project, as well as materials purchased locally for the project.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
