This week marks Small Business Week – an annual celebration of entrepreneurship organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada. And this year, more than ever before, small businesses need support.
COQUITLAM, BC, Oct. 19, 2020 – This week marks Small Business Week – an annual celebration of entrepreneurship organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada. And this year, more than ever before, small businesses need support.
Coquitlam has nearly 7,000 licensed businesses, many of which are small enterprises run by people who live, raise families, support local fundraisers and volunteer in this community.
From Sunday, Oct. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 24, the City of Coquitlam will be celebrating our small business community and showcasing some of the people who run them. Visit www.coquitlam.ca/businessweek and watch Coquitlam’s social media channels to learn more about our local entrepreneurs.
Five Reasons to Support Small Business
- Your money stays here. Spending at a small business supports owners and staff who often live in the same community.
- They provide jobs. Local small businesses not only provide employment for their owners and their families, but for others in the community.
- They’re members of our community. Many local small businesses support worthy causes, sponsor sports teams and give back to their community in other ways.
- They reward loyalty. Once local small businesses get to know you, they’ll often go the extra mile to meet your needs.
- We are all in this together. Without a reliable supply of customers, many small businesses could face hardships during these challenging economic times. Supporting your local business is supporting your local community.
Join Coquitlam’s Efforts to #SupportLocal
The City of Coquitlam has joined the Tri-Cities #SupportLocal campaign to assist local businesses, many of which are struggling at this time. Coquitlam strongly encourages residents to #SupportLocal for their shopping and meals; go to www.wegotthistricities.com to view business listings and www.visitcoquitlam.ca for a directory of 200+ Coquitlam restaurants offering takeout, dine-in and delivery. See also our video to learn more about how you can support local businesses.
How Coquitlam is Helping Local Businesses
Many Coquitlam businesses, especially restaurants, have been hit hard by the pandemic. The City has been working to promote local economic recovery with activities such as:
- Creating a Business Support Portal with comprehensive information about opportunities and resources at www.letstalkcoquitlam.ca/business;
- Tourism Coquitlam initiatives such as the 75 Days of Summer campaign and local restaurant listings at www.visitcoquitlam.ca;
- Offering more online services and cutting red tape, such as relaxing outdoor commercial space regulations, and adapting development application processes and fee schedules;
- Promoting the Tri-Cities #SupportLocal initiative and building business support into civic events;
- Conducting business and consumer surveys to identify needs, attitudes and trends; and
- Providing targeted business support through the City Economic Development Action Plan and multi-sector Community Support and Recovery Plan.
About Small Business Week
BDC Small Business Week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has organized for over 40 years. During the coronavirus pandemic, Canadian entrepreneurs have once again shown their courage and ability to adapt. This year, BDC Small Business Week is recognizing their resilience, trying to understand what has changed for Canadian businesses and looking to build for the future in these uncertain times. For information, visit www.bdc.ca/sbw.
Media contact
Curtis Scott
A/Manager Economic Development
604-927-6965
cscott@coquitlam.ca