September 25, 2019 – British Columbia: BC is open for business. Small Business BC, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia and the Small Business Roundtable, is pleased to announce the start of the Open for Business Awards nominations which opened on Tuesday, September 24th at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Conference.
The Open for Business Awards recognize the communities that best demonstrate they are promoting and adopting business friendly initiatives in their region. Launched in 2011, the awards are managed and delivered by the Small Business Roundtable Secretariat, encompassing three categories:
- Small Communities (<5,000 residents)
- Medium Communities (5,000 to 25,000 residents)
- Large Communities (>25,000 residents)
The Open for Business Awards process helps participating communities build connections with local leaders, attract new immigration and business investment, along with cultivating new tourism interest within their region.
“The nomination window for the Open for Business Awards is open, presenting an excellent opportunity for people to nominate their community,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “These awards are important because they bring together communities and small businesses with a common goal – to help locally-owned businesses prosper and continue to contribute to the local economy.”
The Open for Business Awards will be open for nominations on the sbbcawards.ca site from September 24, 2019 to November 30, 2019. Submissions are active over a three-year window, whereby communities can amend their submissions for the second and third year.
Running alongside the Open for Business Awards, Small Business BC is proud to present the annual Small Business BC Awards, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of BC’s entrepreneurs. Nominations for the Small Business BC Awards run from October 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.
The winners of both awards will be announced at the Small Business BC Awards Gala on February 21, 2020 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
“We are proud to once again partner with the Province in promoting both awards contests,” says Tom Conway, CEO of Small Business BC. “The Small Business BC Awards exist to champion and celebrate the small businesses that contribute to our local communities and the B.C. economy. Celebrating the community initiatives that support these businesses through the Open for Business Awards is a natural fit.”
Watch the Open for Business video to find out more: https://sbbc.co/OFB-2019-Video
Last year’s Open for Business winners and details on the nomination process can be found at sbbc.co/OFB-Awards.
Media Contact:
Kelsey Malden
Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Small Business BC
Direct: 604-775-5607
[email protected]
About Small Business BC
Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business. Through a wide range of products, services, education and resources there’s a piece that fits with every business. No matter what stage or what skill level, when an entrepreneur finds themselves asking “How do I…?” Small Business BC is the one to call.
About the Province of British Columbia
The B.C. government recognizes that small businesses are the heart of our communities, and the backbone of B.C.’s economy. Small businesses play a vital role in advancing both the economic and social fabric of the province. The Small Business Branch, part of the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology, is committed to supporting and developing small businesses throughout the province in every stage of the business lifecycle.
About the Small Business Roundtable
The permanent Small Business Roundtable was established in 2005 to engage in a dialogue with small business owners to identify the key issues and opportunities facing small businesses in British Columbia, and to develop recommendations for small business and government on strategies to enhance small business growth and success.