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Grand Forks finalists in "Open for Business" award

Contributor
By Contributor
September 9th, 2014

Grand Forks is in the top 13 finalists in the province for the 2014 “Open for Business” awards. The award recognizes communities that support small businesses through local government.

“B.C.’s economy depends on local governments partnering with businesses to drive prosperity, community by community, right across the province. These awards both incentivize and recognize those efforts. We’re delighted that this year’s finalists are our strongest group yet – communities that are going all out to welcome and support local economic growth. We’d like to thank all finalists for their outstanding efforts, and particularly the smaller communities that have come forward this year and have worked so hard for this recognition,” said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce.

The awards are issued by the BC Small Business Roundtable, established in 2005 to be the voice of small business to government. Through its diverse sector membership of small-business owners and association leaders, the roundtable helps government develop strategies to support the growth and success of small business throughout the province.

This year, the roundtable received submissions from all eight economic regions, with seven new community applicants. The applications are evaluated based on how the communities enhance small-business competitiveness, recognize the contributions of small businesses to the community, and promote the principles of the BC Small Business Accord. The roundtable noted the 2014 applications are the strongest to date with the majority of applications coming from smaller communities.

Other finalists include Nelson, Delta, Kelowna, the City of Langley, Parksville, Port Coquitlam, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Smithers, Surrey, Vernon and Whistler. 

The winner will be announced Sept. 24 at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual conference in Whistler and will receive $10,000. 

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