Honey Bee Manufacturing finds it more practical to use courier services and airports in Montana than to use similar services in its home province of Saskatchewan.
The company is located in Frontier, which is more than 170 kilometres south of Swift Current, Sask., and 400 km from the international airport in Regina but only 35 km from the border crossing at Climax.
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As a result, the harvesting equipment manufacturer finds the American cities of Great Falls and Billings more convenient.
Honey Bee, which started in 1987, employs 180 staff and has annual sales of $50 million, of which $10 million are export sales. A fifth of its exports go to the United States.
When general manager Brad Nelson follows up on an international order, he does not look to an economic group or regional initiative. He simply takes care of business.
“Because of where we’re located … we tend to do things on our own because we have to,” he said. “We’re more a driver than a passenger when it comes to our own corporate well being. It’s just something you have to do.”
However, he’d like the crossing at Climax to be a 24-hour commercial port and to get that, group action is needed.
Action Southwest, a coalition of municipalities and businesses in southwestern Saskatchewan, counts a commercial crossing at Climax as one of its priorities in building the regional economy.
It also wants improved roads and better trade and tourism in the sparsely populated border region where Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana come together.
Businesses and community promoters in the area think the time is ripe for such efforts because the economy is reviving, local resources such as agriculture and oil and gas are on the upswing and increasing potential is being seen in wind energy.
The coalition, as well as economic development groups in Alberta and Montana, are looking beyond their borders to generate growth for the entire region.
Coalition project manager Sandra Blythe wants to support the region’s place in a global economy.
“What do we have to do to give our industry a step up in order to be competitive?” she said.
“We have to work with the neighbouring province and in the States in helping all industries…. When it comes down to business, borders mean nothing.”
Nelson sees how Honey Bee can benefit from these initiatives, especially the border crossing.
“We want improved accessibility,” Nelson said. “We want to grow our business in the U.S. A part of that is simply having access.”
A 24-hour commercial port at Climax would help the company’s business and reduce the escalating costs of fuel and trucking into the United States, he said.
Tackling such issues is easier with a united front, he added.
“For us to take it on ourselves, we would get very little ear.”
Honey Bee now ships through North Portal in eastern Saskatchewan, about 500 km from the plant.
Only whole implements bound for Montana can be shipped through any border crossing. Shipments bound for other destinations must go through commercial ports.
