October 19, 2004 VANCOUVER -- Small Business B.C. will receive $418,500 in funding from the federal and provincial governments to provide one-stop, province-wide access to resources and services that support small business start-up and growth. The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport); and John Les, British Columbia Minister of Small Business and Economic Development announced the funding today. Small Business B.C. is one of over one-hundred points of service in Western Economic Diversification Canada's Business Service Network," said Minister Owen. ¿WD and Small Business B.C. supports the willingness of entrepreneurs to take risks, devise new products and services and create economic opportunities in communities throughout the province." In June, the national Network of Canada Business Service Centres, of which Small Business B.C. is part, was awarded the 2004 United Nations Public Service Award in the category of Improvement of Public Service Results. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are an important driver of British Columbia's economy," said Les. ¿Small Business B.C. plays a vital role in the success of these businesses and entrepreneurs by providing the necessary resources to help them grow and improve. I am pleased to see the excellent work of the Society recognized by the United Nations, and I know today's funding will go a long way in bringing out the best in British Columbia's businesses and entrepreneurs ." Small Business B.C. will use $350,000 to fund e-BC, which provides in-house and Web-based e-commerce assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses in the province and offers a variety of services to help British Columbia businesses adopt e-business technology and improve their business performance. The remaining $68,500 will enable Small Business B.C. to update two existing publications and publish three new small business guidebooks. The Society's services are available to entrepreneurs in person, by telephone or e-mail and through an extensive array of internet-based services. The Society is a partnership between Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development and is partially funded through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement. The Western Economic Partnership Agreement is a $50 million joint federal/provincial program supporting economic development in British Columbia. Western Economic Diversification Canada and the provincial Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development jointly administer the program. The agreement was announced on Dec. 4, 2003, and is funded equally by the governments of Canada and British Columbia. The federal portion of this funding was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. The services of Small Business B.C. are available to entrepreneurs in person, by telephone or e-mail and through an extensive array of internet-based services. With 75 community partnerships throughout British Columbia, community-based access is provided to the services and programs of Small Business B.C. via the Internet. Backgrounder attached - 30 - For additional information, contact: Susan Schooley Communications Manager Western Economic Diversification Canada 604 666-1318 Paul Woolley Communications Director Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development 250 356-9428 WD Toll-Free Number 1-888-338-WEST (9378) World Wide Web Site: English: http://www.wd.gc.ca French: http://www.deo.gc.ca
