The District of Squamish's Economic Development Department began conducting local business interviews in step one of a five step process of the new Squamish Business Counts program. Up to 80 interviews will be conducted with businesses from 16 different industries over the next few months. The interview data will provide a deeper understanding of current and future issues that affect our local business community. The five-step process will see the program go from strategy to action in enhancing our local business environment.
The interview information collected will be entered into a database to identify local business climate issues. A workshop with business owners will be held in February 2012 to strategize ways to address the issues and feed into an action plan.
"This comprehensive program will build stronger relationships with local business owners and economic development organizations. It will also provide an enhanced understanding of issues relating to retaining and expanding local business," said District of Squamish Economic Sustainability Coordinator Dan McRae.
Staff of the Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures, the Downtown BIA, Tourism Squamish, Training Innovations, and the District of Squamish play a large role in assisting to support this program. At the end of August 2011 staff of these organizations participated in training from the Economic Development Association of British Columbia to help effectively service the business community through the Squamish Business Counts program.
The Five Step Squamish Business Counts Program
Step 1 - Interview local business owners to understand current and future issues and expansion needs.
Step 2 - Analyze input, compile a summary of key needs and issues highlighted by the business community.
Step 3 - Host a public workshop to confirm needs assessment, identify gaps, prioritize issues and discuss solutions.
Step 4 - Develop a comprehensive strategic action plan to address issues, tackle critical areas as a top priority and create stakeholder action teams to implement strategies and monitor results.
Step 5 - Commence implementation of strategic action plan with stakeholder teams.
Squamish Business Counts Program is helping to mitigate risks and leverage expansion opportunities. The District of Squamish will be working strategically with local business operators to assess risk areas, analyze barriers to business growth and apply solutions. The goal is a healthy local economy and it starts with the businesses in place today. Their success means local jobs, expanded services, a reliable tax base to support the community, and an economy that attracts new investment in the future.
To download the Squamish Business Counts brochure, please visit www.squamish.ca or www.businesssquamish.com.
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The District of Squamish's Economic Development Department is facilitating business development, assisting local business organizations, and promoting the community in order to expand trade and investment opportunities in Squamish.
About Squamish
Squamish is a vibrant seaside community located in the Coast Mountain Range of British Columbia, at the head of Howe Sound. Home to more than 15,000 people, Squamish is a young, energetic town with 60% of the population under the age of 40. Squamish offers a high quality lifestyle, entrepreneurial opportunities, two universities and a community that prides itself as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.”
