Small Business Month

S M A L L B U S I N E S S M O N T H - S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S - T H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 2 By Wendy King for the Free Press I f you think local economic growth has to come from large companies coming in to Manitoba, Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce says: Think again. "People would be surprised by the impact small local companies – those with fewer than one hundred employees – actually have," Davidson says. "In 2012, Stats Canada said there were 35,980 total businesses in Manitoba, and the number with less than 100 is 35,298," he says. "Businesses with less than 100 employees make up about 97 or 98 percent of all businesses in the province – so it's a huge proportion and the financial contribution is significant. Some define a small business as a 1-to- 10 operation, and if you pull that number out, it's in the neighbourhood of 70 to 80 per cent of all businesses." Businesses with under 100 employees account for about 50 per cent of all the employees in the province – a significant impact on the provincial GDP. "It's tough to put a number on it, but anyone will tell you that small businesses are the backbone of any provincial economy," Davidson says. Small companies have an opportunity for quicker growth, which he says is key. "When you're looking to grow the provincial economy, there is always this sense that we need to attract businesses from other locations, but the reality in terms of real growth and the biggest impact on your economy is going to be the organic growth," he says. Part of Davidson's job as president of the Chambers (a diverse business lobby representing more than 10,000 businesses and community leaders) is to visit businesses across the province. "I was in Brandon at Progressive Sanitation, a small company that's seen significant growth over the last couple of years in providing a cleaning service of mats and uniforms for various companies," he says. "They started out three years ago with three employees, now they have 18, and you can see that kind of growth in virtually every community." Davidson says that small businesses are often a key part of the larger supply chain, providing supplies and services to larger companies who need them. He cites Dauphin's Ritz Machine Works, a company that supplies manufactured parts for Motor Coach Industries. "This is a company that has developed a specific technology, a specific product – it has 20 employees, and it has a major client," he says. "I think that supply chain process in Manitoba is one that is critical for small businesses." He also recently toured Versatile, a tractor manufacturer. "A lot of the products that they are using in their tractors are from other suppliers, so there is this supply chain within Manitoba with bigger companies depending on these relationships with smaller companies that provide a very niche product for them," he says. And the Chambers can have a hand in developing those relationships, he adds. "What we do for these small businesses is to be supportive of them, provide them with some opportunities or steer them in the right direction where they might find new relationships," Davidson says. "And a big part of the organization is making sure that we are encouraging government at various levels to create a business climate that's going to encourage these businesses to continue to grow." Companies that have demonstrated that kind of growth include this year's MBiz Outstanding Small Business Award Nominees Penner Waste Inc. from Winkler (Waste Management Specialists and Regional Recycling Depot); Progressive Sanitation as Brandon's leading supplier of sanitation supplies and equipment; and from Morden, Pure Anada, a natural cosmetics and botanical skincare company. "We're always trying to tell people: This is how you can grow your community, by supporting your local businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs so they continue to grow and be a key part of their community." ❚ MCC president Chuck Davidson (pictured above) says small businesses are the backbone of the provincial economy. SMALL BUSINESS, BIG IMPACT By supporting local businesses to grow consumers are helping the provincial economy to grow as well, says the head of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce "People would be surprised by the impact small local companies – those with fewer than one hundred employees – actually have..." - Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

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