Help support small businesses, local economy
Posted November 28, 2014 7:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Ninety-eight per cent of businesses in this province are small businesses – and you have until Sunday to show your support for the local economy.
Voting for nominees of this year’s Small Business BC Awards are open until November 30th.
Since its inception in 2003, the annual event has become one of the largest and most widely-recognized contests in British Columbia.
The awards are important to entrepreneurs like Anthony Jones, Founder and CEO of Hunky Haulers.
“Without the support of the community, we wouldn’t even have a business,” says Jones.
His Surrey-based company is nominated for the Best Community Impact award, largely because of their emphasis on social responsibility.
“When I first started the business, I definitely saw an opportunity to give back to the community because of the type of items we were picking up. So I figured it was a great chance to be able to give back to different charities and help so many families that are in need,” he explains.
Jones adds his business is more than just a clutter removal service. “We’re currently working with a number of organizations – such as Big Brothers, Easter Seals, The Salvation Army and NightShift Ministries – and we donate as many items as we can to those local charities. We also started an at-risk youth work program and a refugee work program several years ago, offering mentorship and gainful employment opportunities.”
The Lower Mainland is home to nearly 225,000 small businesses.
Last year, 470 small businesses were nominated from 55 communities across the province.
You can vote for this year’s nominees here.
