Excited about the prospect of Moose Jaw becoming home to a number of new facilities in the upcoming year, Moose Jaw Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Clark says there's lots to look forward to in the Friendly City.

The ball got rolling last year on a new SaskPower Power Station that will be built in Moose Jaw, as well as a new distillery that is going to be set up in town.

"It's taken a little while but I'll tell you it's starting to get quite exciting. We've had a couple of announcements and there's even another one - we have a solar energy company touring town. They all had other opportunities in Saskatchewan or BC, and they all picked Moose Jaw. So great job to the mayor, Jim Dixon, Jim Puffault."

Referring to the solar energy company, Clark said it's too early in the process to assume anything, or even to know if they will be setting up shop in town, but they have visited here over the past week and plan to come for a second tour.

And that’s not all he's looking forward to.

"The RFP closing on Mosaic Place, which I think is going to be some exciting news. Now we're going to have an event and entertainment venue, each one of these shows has to bring some dollars to the city.”

That, along with the recent rise in press that Mac the Moose has received, will do nothing but good things for our community according to Clark.

“One of our biggest economic drives in the city is tourism. There's up to 150,000 people who visit the Tourism Centre and Visitors Booth, so that's going to be double or triple."

Moose Jaw City Council was criticized by some after the announcement of the new distillery, because of their decision to give a new venture a property tax break in exchange for starting up in our city.

Clark defended City Council, saying the support for Imperial Distillery gives Moose Jaw "momentum as a city of choice for investors.”

"The guy did a presentation - he's talking about growth and he wants to make this the centre of distribution, I think he said in the world but I'll say North America. He really wants to make Moose Jaw happen."