Helping small business with interactive technology

In a move to strengthen British Columbia’s small- and medium-sized businesses, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are partnering to spend $233,500 through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement ( WEPA – http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/4909.asp ). This is in addition to previous assistance to support infrastructure of 47 video-conferencing sites in B.C. communities.

The idea behind this latest investment is to enhance accessibility to the resources available to businesses. Under the WEPA each of the two levels of government are contributing $25 million to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in western Canadian communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Hon. Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, the Hon. Jim Abbott, MP for Kootenay-Columbia, said “this project will help them [businesses] access the resources they need to expand and prosper”.

“Helping people connect through interactive technology strengthens partnerships and builds on local capacity,” said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett on behalf of Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, Iain Black. “We’re ensuring that B.C. entrepreneurs in rural and smaller communities are well served, with access to information and training that will help them expand and succeed.”

Education and training in rural B.C. is more accessible through the use of video-conference facilities, providing innovative training opportunities by better linking instructors with participants and encouraging greater learning interaction. The latest funding will assist with this.

Small Business BC CEO George Hunter says that providing effective supports through relevant, timely information products and training increases the chances for profitability and long-term success. Small Business BC is British Columbia’s premiere resource centre for small-business products and services. The organization has played a leading role in delivering a province-wide video conference network. ( http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/ )

Since 2006, the Small Business BC Education Centre has delivered over 1,000 video conference seminars and workshops to more than 13,000 seminar registrants. Small business owners throughout rural B.C. have accessed a variety of seminar topics ranging from start-up information to marketing.