HAPPY SMALL BUSINESS WEEK!
Small businesses are the heart and soul of Manitoba’s economy. They provide jobs, boost the province’s financial well-being, and deliver innovation and creativity to our communities. Helping small local businesses continue to be successful is incredibly important.
This year, BDC Small Business Week runs from October 18 to 24. This annual event is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of Canadian small businesses. The Business Development Bank of Canada has been organizing Small Business Week since 1979, and we’re excited to join them in celebrating their 41st year.
HOW WE’RE HELPING
During the 2019 Small Business Week, we launched the Small Business Program. This offer delivers a full-service energy efficiency solution to small business owners, helping them save energy and money. We provide them with basic energy-saving devices and a free lighting assessment. If we find that they could benefit from additional energy-efficient lighting, we’ll provide them with a 70% incentive on Premium lighting upgrades.
“The benefits of this program go beyond energy savings,” says Aleena McNeill (Energy Efficiency Specialist, Efficiency Manitoba). “We’re helping business owners improve the appearance of their space and save on maintenance costs. Our hands-on approach also takes the burden of making upgrades off the owner, so they can cross that item off their to-do list.”
Over the past year, the Small Business Program has helped approximately 350 businesses become more energy efficient.
“I love visiting local restaurants and stores who’ve gone through the program and seeing the positive impact it’s had on their spaces,” says McNeill. “It’s incredibly rewarding.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We wanted to celebrate Small Business Week in a way that helps businesses and engages Manitobans like you. We’re running a contest to top up one lucky small business owner’s Premium lighting incentive to 100% – and we need your help!
From now until November 9, fill out a short nomination form for your favourite small business. On November 18, we’ll choose the winning business and help them get started on their energy efficiency journey.