The Trail & District Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Junior Achievement, FortisBC and Basin Business Advisors Program to offer FREE business development workshops and sessions to our Lower Columbia area businesses and employees during Small Business Week.

Events:

1. Junior Achievement Program: Helping students explore their entrepreneurial potential
Date: Monday, October 17
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: Colander Restaurant, 1475 Cedar Ave. Trail

2. Saving Energy, Saving Money: How FortisBC can help businesses improve their bottom line and help pay for it too!
Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 7:30 – 8:30am
Location: Fortis building, 1290 Esplanade Ave. Trail

3. Succession Planning: Thinking about retiring from your small business?
Date: Friday, October 21
Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Community Futures of Greater Trail, 835 Spokane St. Trail

4. Small Business BC: FREE webinars all month!
Date: October 1 – 31
Click here for the schedule and more information

 

Details about each workshop & how to RSVP:

1. Junior Achievement Program:
Helping students explore their entrepreneurial potential

In 2016, over 38,000 BC students benefited from Junior Achievement BC programs delivered free of charge by volunteers from local business communities who bring their real-life experience into the classroom. Their programs focus on work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Through these programs, students in grades 5 to 12 gain the confidence and skills they need to become the next generation of business and community leaders.

Find out how you can help students explore their entrepreneurial potential and understand how businesses operate, or how you can give them a hands-on learning experience of running their own retail stand.

Please RSVP to the Chamber at membershipmamager@trailchamber.bc.ca or 250-368-3144 if you are able to join us for this lunch seminar. Participants are responsible for paying for own lunches.

2.  Saving Energy, Saving Money:
How FortisBC can help businesses improve their bottom line and help pay for it too!

How can something as simple as your lights affect your bottom line? FortisBC will show local businesses how they can lower their bottom line operating costs by upgrading to energy efficient equipment and implementing some simple, easy practices. FortisBC will also provide details about a new instant rebate program: the Business Direct Install program. The Business Direct Install program (fortisbc.com/directinstall) offers a free no-obligation facility energy assessment, followed by the installation of recommended energy efficient equipment, including lighting, from local participating contractors. It also includes rebates up to 50% of the installation costs!

Please RSVP to the Chamber at membershipmamager@trailchamber.bc.ca or 250-368-3144 if you are able to join us for this morning breakfast meeting. Refreshments will be provided.

3. Succession Planning:
Thinking about retiring from your small business?

Planning the transfer of your business to someone else requires more than putting out a For Sale sign. Now might be the time to get serious about creating a succession plan that works for you, your employees, your business and your community.

The Basin Business Advisors Program can help you get started on the right foot. This three hour workshop is designed to help you explore options and to answer some of your questions.

We will review:
– Preparing your business for sale
– Identifying potential buyers
– Marketing your business
– Legal and financial accounting ramifications and support required
– Common business valuation techniques

Call 1-855-510-2227 Ext. 5 to register, or visit bbaprogram.ca. Please register at least two business days prior to the workshop to secure a spot.

4. Small Business BC: FREE webinars all month

October marks the start of Small Business Month in British Columbia, a time to recognize the contributions entrepreneurs and small business owners make towards the economy and our local communities. This year is extra special because it marks the 10th anniversary of Small Business Month in our province.

To celebrate, Small Business BC and The Province of British Columbia have partnered to offer the Small Business Month Free Services Plan that will allow entrepreneurs and small business owners in BC FREE access to Small Business BC’s education and client services products and services with promo code SBMATE2016, including seminars, webinars and Ask the Expert sessions, between October 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016.

Click here for a schedule and more information.