Efforts continue by the Carman-Dufferin Economic Development Committee to help the local business community succeed. Chair Richard Dyck says there are three goals to the group's action plan - self-promotion, business retention, and nourishing and encouraging local entrepreneurs. The priorities are discussed during quarterly meetings on a rotating basis.

"The reason why we're doing this is to be mindful. We don't want to create a strategy and document a plan and then stuff it away, we want it top of mind for all of us so that we're always talking about it."

At the January meeting, committee members were offered an update on that action plan by Economic Development Officer Tyler King. Dyck says a recent survey of Carman area business owners indicated a strong need for training, adding several opportunities were identified. "The focus is pretty extensive."

The list includes customer service, working alone, shoplifting prevention, recruiting Volunteers, training and keeping volunteers, business promotion, working together to help promote each other's business, new and easy website ideas, grant options for non-profits, social media and board training.

Dyck explains that King has now tapped into various resources and organizations that can help meet this demand. "We have no shortage of opportunities to plug into these sessions and then try to roll some out to our businesses."

Committee members have also committed to doing thirty visits to local businesses this year - three have been completed since the new year. "People have really embraced this," added Dyck.

As for what's next, he says members plan to continue working toward this plan and review progress at the end of the year.

"We all agreed that this was just a starting point and there are a lot of steps we still need to do to fill our business spaces and enhance the quality of life for our business owners so that the folks in our communities have a better quality of life."