As we kick off Small Business Week here in Northumberland and across the country, small businesses across the county will have access to training, mentorship and funding opportunities as the week runs from Oct. 19 to 25.
Joe Southwell is the CEO of the Quinte West Chamber of Commerce, and for him, the week represents an opportunity to celebrate the businesses that comprise the backbone of the region and keep us all within arm’s reach of the goods and services that make us tick. Southwell recently learned a statistic that he was unaware of, and he says it came as something of a shock to him, but in a positive way.
Southwell says part of the reason for this position is the region’s proximity to U.S. border states and the fact that the region has a great deal of manufacturing capability. In these uncertain times, buyers are looking to localize more than ever before. Buying from home is strengthening the local business environment, Southwell believes.
The county’s Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland is marking the week with workshops, networking opportunities and the launch of its annual Starter Company Growth Program. Southwell adds that the week is truly meant to celebrate all businesses in the region.
The program offers eligible businesses operating full-time in Northumberland for at least six months free training, mentorship and the opportunity to receive a microgrant of up to $3,500. Applications are open until Nov. 16, with funding awarded through a competitive selection process.
The centre is also hosting free online workshops on Oct. 20 covering business succession planning and financial record-keeping.
On Oct. 22, local entrepreneurs and business owners are invited to a peer-to-peer networking session at 600 William St. in Cobourg. The session, featuring Shaelene McInnis of Books In Line Professional Services Inc., will focus on cash flow management and helping businesses better understand where their money goes.
Among the highlights of the week will be a Women in Business seminar on Tuesday that will provide insight into what he calls profit, purpose and balance for women in business.
Another highlight will be seminars on how to adapt to and manage the influx of AI technologies that have permeated every aspect of the business milieu in recent years and have been the source of considerable confusion and trepidation for many business owners. Southwell says it doesn’t have to be seen as quite that daunting.
Small Business Week will recognize the contributions of independent businesses throughout communities such as Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton and Trent Hills. Local businesses provide employment, deliver essential goods and services, and contribute to community events and the regional economy.
Southwell points out that, generally speaking, in small towns, 84 per cent of businesses are considered small businesses, with between one and four employees. He says the more people support local businesses, the more the community, in turn, supports itself.
The Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland can be reached at 905-372-9279. More information about programs and registration is available at BECN.ca.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
