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’s (OCC) annual Small Business: Too Big To Ignore campaign. The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and 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 Fort Frances’s economy. This small business week, we celebrate the contributions of business owners and entrepreneurs across our region by shopping and dining local,” said Heather Johnson, Executive Director. “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 Fort Frances.”
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,” said 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.
