Campbell River City Manager Deborah Sargent (left) and Economic Development Officer Rose Klukas accept the provincial Open for Business Award Friday at the Small Business B.C. Awards gala in Vancouver.
Campbell River has been recognized as a leading community in the province for small business growth at a gala last week in Vancouver.
On Friday, the city received the 2018 Open for Business Award at the Small Business B.C. event.
More than 30 communities were nominated and Campbell River won in the large communities category for cities with a population over 25,000.
“Local economies are sustained by successful, innovative small businesses,” city manager Deborah Sargent said in a release.
“In 2017, the city launched CRadvantage, the first municipal broadband network on Vancouver Island, to enable access to high-speed, affordable internet for our downtown businesses and residents.”
Winners were selected through case studies examined by a small business roundtable.
Campbell River’s case focused on its modern entrepreneur initiative, aimed at retention and growth through professional workshops and networking opportunities.
The city says the CRadvantage network helps provide the infrastructure that high tech businesses require.
“As nominees, we had to present a business case outlining the innovative ways Campbell River supports small business,” economic development officer Rose Klukas said.
“Our case clearly set us apart and demonstrated that Campbell River’s initiatives are at the head of the pack.”
Small business makes up 98 per cent of all businesses in B.C. and generates 45 per cent of the province’s gross domestic product.
Andy Neal
