Province Celebrates Small Business Week

Small Business Week kicks off today, Oct. 17, giving business in Nova Scotia an opportunity to network, learn and share successes with their peers.

Government committed $29,000 to help organize Small Business Week in Nova Scotia. The week's events support growth and development of businesses across the province.

"The theme for this year's small business week is Power Up Your Business. Invest. Innovate. Grow," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "It's a theme that fits perfectly with jobsHere, our plan to grow the economy. Helping our small businesses will help us create good jobs and achieve that goal.

Businesses and new entrepreneurs who attend Small Business Week events benefit from information on business issues, current government programs and services, and an opportunity to network and build local contacts.

The province is also helping to celebrate Small Business Week through the Atlantic Provinces Supplier Development Reverse Trade Show on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Canada Games Centre, 26 Thomas Raddall Dr., Halifax. Businesses will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to buyers from the four Atlantic provinces, municipal, and federal governments, universities, colleges, school boards and health authorities.

"Through the jobsHere procurement initiative, the province is developing best practices for the entire public sector to maximize our purchasing power," said Mr. Paris. "Providing businesses the tools needed to sell their goods and services to the public sector is a key best practice."

Government's support of Small Business Week helps to foster a professional and collaborative environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to celebrate their achievements and their importance to the economy.

Visit www.bdc.ca/EN/about/Pages/NovaScotia.aspx for a list of small business events across the province.