A takeover is coming to Okotoks.

Coworking Takeover Week is an event designed to bring freelancers, entrepreneurs, and other work-from-home types into community spaces.

Okotoks is one of 36 communities participating in the event, held by Rural On Purpose.

The event will take place May 6th to 10th.

Angela Groeneveld, Economic Development Manager for the Town, says the event will help grow the town's local freelance community.

"The purpose of this project is to flush out our home-based businesses, our coworkers, and invite them to work in spaces in local businesses. Why we're doing that is because with this economy these local businesses need to diversify," Groeneveld said.

The event will take place in May, but the town will host an information session for interested residents held Wednesday, Apr 24th.

Groeneveld says the event will help local freelancers and entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

"These consultants and these freelancers want to be more in an energetic, open environment, just to create those creative juices flowing. And also, when you're in a local community, you're working in co-working spaces, and you're networking, and you're promoting your business. So just in conversation I would share business cards or connections in that local community," she said.

Groeneveld says there are 687 home-based businesses in the community, in addition to freelancers and entrepreneurs who may not be registered with the Town.

She says the event has been met with enthusiasm from the entrepreneur community in Okotoks.

"Council directed (the Economic Development Department) to make the downtown more of a destination place. So it's open to everybody in Okotoks," Groeneveld said.

The Coworking Takeover Week information session will run Wednesday, April 24th at 7 p.m. at the RPAC.

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