Checking the business pulse

Photo: Contributed

Vernon officials will be checking on the economic pulse of the city when they chat up area businesses.

On Wednesday, Vernon's mayor and other officials will be visiting approximately 150 Vernon businesses for the third annual Business Walks program as a part of Small Business Month.

The city has partnered with Community Futures North Okanagan, the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Vernon Association to ensure as many businesses as possible can be visited.

“We have assembled over 20 volunteers, including Mayor Akbal Mund, representatives from the Province of B.C. and the British Columbia Economic Development Association, that will be visiting commercial businesses throughout Vernon from 10 a.m. until noon with a goal of gaining a better understanding of the economic climate in the community,” said Kevin Poole, manager of economic development and tourism. “Last year, we were able to visit 145 businesses in Vernon and are hoping to visit just as many this time around.”

Business Walks is meant as a five-minute check in with businesses to gain a better understanding of how things are going and how support agencies can better meet their needs.

“The goal of Business Walks is to get a pulse on the immediate issues and challenges that companies may be facing,” said Poole. “Prominent economists such as David Birch and David Kraybill have said up to 80 per cent of job growth in a community is created from within. This is contrary to the belief that new job growth is achieved through business attraction efforts. Our goal is to create an environment in Vernon where business can continue to grow and thrive.”

Vernon was the second region in B.C. to participate in the Business Walks program starting in 2013 and have visited more than 300 businesses throughout the community since that time. It is anticipated 40 communities throughout British Columbia will undertake a Business Walks survey throughout the month of October.