Northumberland County is celebrating Small Business Week by sharing the results of surveys about community support for the local economy and by continuing to promote the importance of shopping close to home, calling small business “the backbone of our community.”
Along with the Prosper In Northumberland initiative, a coalition comprised of area businesses, associations, municipalities, and community members, the county is highlighting the important role of locally owned businesses while marking Small Business Week from October 19 to 25. The annual celebration of entrepreneurship was launched by Business Development Bank of Canada more than 45 years ago.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community,” said Rob Day, Northumberland County’s manager of economic development and co-chair of the Prosper In Northumberland operating group, in a statement.
“They don’t just keep our local economy running, they also shape the character of our community, enhance the vitality of our downtowns, provide local jobs to our neighbours, friends and family, and support our local community programs,” Day said. “These businesses may be small, but they are mighty. Small Business Week is a time to celebrate all they do for our community and give back by supporting them in turn.”
This past summer, Prosper In Northumberland conducted surveys of residents and local business owners as part of a community-wide Northumberland “Buy Local” campaign. The purpose of the surveys was to gather insights around how the community can better support local businesses and to encourage residents to redirect spending to businesses in Northumberland.
Completed by more than 350 Northumberland business owners and residents, the surveys revealed “a strong community desire to support local businesses and a shared understanding of the challenges local businesses face.”
Findings of the surveys include these highlights:
- 71 per cent of surveyed businesses have up to 10 employees
- 66 per cent of surveyed businesses have operated for over a decade
- 68 per cent of surveyed businesses anticipate rising costs in 2025
- 66 per cent of surveyed residents make supporting locally owned businesses a priority
- At 91 per cent, tight-knit community connections through word-of mouth is the primary influence on surveyed residents’ decisions about where they shop.
The findings from these surveys have been shared with the local business network through chambers of commerce, with the goal of helping inform those groups how they can continue to meet the evolving needs of local consumers.
Meanwhile, Prosper In Northumberland said it will be using these insights to help guide future supports and highlight opportunities for residents, businesses, and community partners to work together in strengthening Northumberland’s economy.
The county encourages residents “to show their local love” during Small Business Week by joining the Northumberland Buy Local movement at buynorthumberland.ca and taking the Buy Local pledge, which involves making a commitment to redirect anywhere from $10 to $100 of their average monthly spending from elsewhere to local businesses in Northumberland.
Those who are already completing the bulk of their shopping in Northumberland are also encouraged to sign the pledge to reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
Earlier this year, Northumberland County announced the launch of Prosper in Northumberland, a 33-member coalition charged with promoting and bolstering the local economy amidst growing economic challenges due to the ongoing tensions around international trade. Dubbing the initiative as “a movement,” it encompasses the commitment to making purchases locally, investing in homegrown businesses, and, ultimately, supporting the livelihoods of fellow Northumberland residents through those actions.
Kate Campbell, Northumberland County’s director of communications, earlier told kawarthaNOW the impetus for the coalition stemmed from meetings with multiple municipal CAOs and economic development officers from all seven of Northumberland’s municipalities to develop a co-ordinated response to the trade developments, particularly the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods that were introduced in March.
“Prosper in Northumberland is not just an initiative, it’s a movement. Together, Northumberland organizations and residents will take action to build resilience and empower our community to thrive,” Campbell said.
