Economic Development Cowichan staff will be conducting a Business Walk in the Cowichan Bay on Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6, 2022. This is the second in a series of Business Walks planned in communities in the Cowichan region. Staff members will be walking door-to-door on both days, speaking with the owners and managers of local businesses about what it’s like to do business in the community, in commercial and industrial areas around Cowichan Bay.
The purpose of the Business Walk is to build relationships and to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that each individual business is facing. The Business Walk is part of a broader effort to support recovery at the community level in Cowichan, and in the Cowichan Bay Village area in particular, may help identify further opportunities to act on the recommendations stemming from the Cowichan Bay design charrette process, concluded in 2018.
The interviews will be informal and conversational in nature, intending to take only a few minutes. With the feedback and responses from the interviews, EDC will be looking to assess and support the individual and collective needs of the business community in Cowichan Bay. For home-based businesses, and any others wanting to participate online, the survey and additional information can be found on the Cowichan Bay Business Walk web-page.
Business owners, managers, and staff are invited to join a follow-up event on Tuesday, May 17, held at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre outdoor seating portal from 4 to 5:30 p.m., where the results of the Business Walk will be shared. This event will allow businesses to meet, greet and meaningfully talk about shared challenges and opportunities of doing business in Cowichan Bay. Representatives from other business support organizations, such as Work BC and Community Futures will also be in attendance. Complimentary refreshments will be provided!
Business Walks have proven to be a useful tool for business retention and expansion strategies. This is the second in a series of business walks to take place over the coming months in several communities in Cowichan. The responses gathered can be useful in a number of ways, from improving programs and services, to establishing and building individual relationships.
