For Immediate Release | October 15, 2018
Dufferin County ON: On October 11th 2018, The Dufferin Board of Trade received the proclamation from Warden Paul Mills of the County of Dufferin, proclaiming the week of October 14 – 20, 2018 as Small Business Week in Dufferin. Small Business Week is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions small businesses make to Ontario’s economy and local communities but also to bring to light the challenges faced by our small business community.
“Small business is the backbone of the Ontario economy and vital to the continued growth, success, and prosperity of Dufferin County,” Pete Renshaw, Chair of the Dufferin Board of Trade said. Over the course of Small Business Week, The Dufferin Board of Trade will be highlighting the contributions that local small businesses make to the community.
The celebration of Small Business Week will culminate at the 2018 Business Excellence Awards Gala on October 18th hosted by Mag Ruffman. The Awards will recognize eight highly esteemed local businesses for their work and achievements within the County. The Business Excellence Awards celebrate the accomplishments of local businesses, business leaders, and organizations. Tickets to the Gala can be purchased at dufferinbot.ca/bea.
Small businesses face a variety of obstacles impeding growth. In 2016 the Ontario Chamber of Commerce published a report, Obstacles and Opportunities: The Importance of Small Business in Ontario, which identified many obstacles small businesses in the province face, including key infrastructure gaps, access to talent, and concerns about the rising costs of doing business. Though progress has been made on the issues, many businesses within Dufferin are still facing these same obstacles to growth.
Small businesses are fundamental to Dufferin’s economy making up 98 per cent of Dufferin’s businesses. Small businesses employ over 3 million Ontarians and account for over two-thirds of all private sector workers. Over 41% of Canadas GDP is contributed by small and medium-sized enterprises.
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About the Dufferin Board of Trade
The Dufferin Board of Trade is a membership organization that champions a robust voice for the business community in Dufferin County. The Dufferin Board of Trade is the frontline resource for business, working to ensure a prosperous and innovative business environment in Dufferin. Learn more at www.dufferinbot.ca.
About the Business Excellence Awards
The Business Excellence Awards recognize outstanding businesses and community organizations operating in Dufferin and the greater Dufferin area. The Awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of the business community and highlight business leadership, innovation, and growth. We will be celebrating this year on Thursday, October 18th, 2018 at the OAS Event Centre in Mono.