Business After Hours, a monthly event hosted by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, met last night to showcase local investment anticipated by the arrival of the Arctic Winter Games in March.

For the local business community, the Arctic Winter Games represents an opportunity for both economic growth and international exposure.

"The Arctic Winter Games brings a lot of economic activity to Whitehorse,” said Rick Karp, president of the Chamber of Commerce. "The business community is participating through sponsorship, by stocking their shelves, making sure we're ready.”

The games is expecting to draw about 2,000 people to the community and business people like Karp hope they will be coming with open wallets.

"It's about worldwide exposure,” said Karp. "Aside from just local retailers doing more business, there will also be representatives from across the circumpolar north who will have the opportunity to see our community... there is no question, the Arctic Winter Games will be a good thing for Whitehorse and the Yukon.”

As the AWG headquarters and administration building, entertainment areas for the athletes, Poli-Clinic and venue for the wrestling competition, Yukon College is an obvious beneficiary.

Gene Batten, is the Food Service Manager for Yukon College and co-ordinator for the Arctic Winter Games.

He's got a big job at the AWG. During the event, he will be responsible for feeding about 2,000 people per day.

"Because Yukon College is also hosting the food services, it just sort of naturally falls into my area,” he said.

Batten will head a staff of about 60 working in three shifts, 24 hours a day. Over the course of the games, he estimates he'll serve about 4,000 litres of chocolate milk and about 3,000 kg of fruit salad, not to mention the breakfasts, pasta, stir fry, sandwiches, pizza, hotdogs and soups he will be serving as well.

Positions like Batton's, represent the major investment for the community, said Karp.

It's an investment both the municipal and territorial governments expect will pay off also.

Last night's meeting brought together ministers Mike Nixon, Elaine Taylor, Doug Graham and Scott Kent, as well as Mayor Bev Buckway, and Premier Darrell Pasloski.

The city of Whitehorse believes the Arctic Winter Games is well worth the cost to taxpayers.

The city will be spending $200,000 on the games, with a further $200,000 in in kind investment.

"It really does bring a lot of economic impact,” said Mayor Bev Buckway. "If you look at the extra jobs created, and the buying from local suppliers, vehicle rentals, advertising revenues, uniforms for the Yukon teams, fuel purchasing, it's absolutely worth the money.”

The 2010 AWG in Grand Prairie cost $6 million and nettet the community a surplus of $300,000.

Economic growth will be a plus for the territory as well.

The territorial government spent, $1.4 million over the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years.

"I think it's excellent on a lot of levels. What we are seeing is the business community stepping up, and of course we want to acknowledge the government of Canada as well and the government of the Yukon for their financial contribution, said Pasloski.

"All of this counts, it does. It's going to be a major contribution for the Yukon.”

Even with the anticipated local investment, the Whitehorse games have a lower budget than past AWGs.

"The games will cost about $5.4 million total this year, Chris Milner, general manager of the Arctic Winter Games, told the Star this morning.” By comparisson, it's a modest budget.

"Typically, an Arctic Winter Games generates about $12 to $14 million,” said Milner. "And we shoot for a balanced budget.”

The games will be held from March 4-10 in various locations throughout Whitehorse. Athletes from Alaska, Greenland, Russia as well as Northern Alberta, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories will join the Yukon teams in competition.