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MEDIA RELEASE
Small Business Resilience Critical
for Ontario’s Economic Growth
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Desjardins Partner to Celebrate Small Business Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2022
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Emerging from the pandemic, supporting small business resilience and growth has never been more important and is a key theme for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce network’s annual Small Business: Too Big To Ignore campaign. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) are proud to partner with Desjardins to underscore the importance of small business success as a precondition to the province’s economic prosperity during Small Business Week from October 16-22, 2022.
“Small businesses are the cornerstone of Sault Ste. Marie’s economy. This small business week, we celebrate the contributions of business owners and entrepreneurs across our region by shopping and dining local,” says SSMCOC President, Karen Bird. “As small businesses continue to face numerous challenges, action by the government and private sector will be crucial to ensure long-term economic growth in the Algoma Region.”
Small business owners across the province continue to grapple with supply chain constraints, labour shortages, and inflation, impacting business predictability and their bottom line. To build small business resilience, an emphasis should be placed on workforce development strategies, infrastructure investments and technological adoption.
“Ontario’s small businesses have shown tremendous strength and resilience throughout the pandemic. This Small Business Week, we are proud to partner with Desjardins to celebrate their hard work, innovation, and adaptability, as well as advocate for the supports necessary to bolster small business success,” says Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, OCC. “Ninety-eight per cent of all employer businesses in Canada are small businesses, yet they continue to face unique challenges related to accessing talent, capital, and markets. It is more important than ever that public policy focuses on removing red tape and other barriers to ensure they can continue to support our labour market and economy.”
Canadian Small Business Week takes place annually during the third week of October. To learn more about the OCC’s support for small businesses, go to www.occ.ca.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocacy and Resources-
Offering support to small businesses to help close the mental health action gap in partnership with Sun Life Financial through its Mental Wellness in the Workplace: A Playbook for SMEs.
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Recognizing entrepreneurial diversity as a powerful strategy for Ontario’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity in The She-Covery Project: Confronting the Gendered Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.
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Providing practical solutions to support small businesses as they fuel Ontario’s economic recovery vis-à-vis Capital is Key: Financing Entrepreneurship in Ontario After COVID-19.
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Highlighting acute challenges facing small businesses in rural, remote & northern communities, such as accessing capital being a longstanding barrier to expansion for First Nations entrepreneurs through Small Business, Big Impact.
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Putting a spotlight on issues such as property tax rates that prevent small businesses from being able to flourish within their communities, resulting in less economic activity in Better Budgets: Bolstering the Fiscal Resilience of Ontario’s Municipalities.
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Spotlighting the key policy priorities of Ontario’s small businesses in the Blueprint to Bolster Ontario’s Prosperity.
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Partnering with the Government of Canada to deliver the Canada Digital Adoption Program Grow Your Business Online grant. Through this program, small business owners can receive a micro-grant worth up to $2,400 to help get their business online, boost their e-commerce presence, or digitalize business operations. Grant recipients must maintain their digital adoption strategy for at least six months. To learn more, click here.
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Offering a unique perspective on the experience of businesses of all sizes across the province through the OCC’s flagship Ontario Economic Report.
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Providing small businesses with the tools and supports, including in-person workshops, webinars and online resources, they need to help businesses understand the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, why and how to become a more inclusive employer, and how to hire and retain talent from the persons with disabilities labour pool through the Discover Ability Network.
About the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization comprised of 600 plus businesses and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community. Learn more about the SSMCOC at www.ssmcoc.com
About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.
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SSMCOC Media Contact:
Rory Ring
Chief Executive Officer
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
E-mail: rory@ssmcoc.com
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