The designation coincides with National Small Business Month and National Small Business Week

VANCOUVER – On Monday, May 1, Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle will proclaim the month of May “Small Business Month” in Vancouver. The designation coincides with National Small Business Month and National Small Business Week (April 30 – May 6). 

“Small businesses are the heart of our city’s economy, representing more than 95 percent of our businesses, and we must work to ensure that our city grows not only from the top down, but also from the bottom up and the middle out,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “Small Business Month invites residents and visitors to support the continued recovery of our small business community as we emerge from the pandemic and work through other economic hardships.”

Also, in observance of Small Business Month, the city is teaming up with the Vancouver Community Library to co-host Connect and Navigate, on Thursday, May 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C Street. This small business resource fair will feature a variety of local resources to help:

• Grow your small business
• Find resources for every stage of your business venture
• Meet advisers, business counselors and learn about available services – all in one place

Throughout the month of May, the city and its partners will showcase local small business stories, share ways for the community to support small businesses and promote opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups and existing small businesses to grow and thrive in Vancouver. Follow the hashtag #CouveSmallBiz and visit the city on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to watch, learn and stay informed.

The city is committed to supporting the growth of its small business community by removing barriers to success and bolstering a thriving local economy through programs such as: 

• Business assistance: Awarded $278,000 for business microenterprise education and technical assistance, including business license/certification programs, microloans and credit repair in 2022.  An additional $470,000 in business assistance funding is proposed for similar business needs in 2023.
• Pre-Lease Program: A free one-hour informational meeting and tour within the commercial space that a business owner or property owner wants to buy/lease/renovate with all the experts in the room. Learn what’s needed for the space – before buying, investing or signing a lease – from various City departments like permitting, sewer, engineering, building, Fire Marshal, land use, parking, Clark County Public Health and more.
• Procurement – Doing Business with the city: A program that publicly advertises bid opportunities offering businesses the ability to fulfill the city’s needs for goods, services, construction/public improvement projects, and professional/technical assistance. An interactive website invites businesses to submit bids, quotes, and proposals competitively. This service offers businesses a unique solution to filling their project pipelines, adding to their expanded growth and sales.
• Restaurant Start-Up Guide: A simple eight-step guide detailing what permits, licensing, plans and inspections are needed before opening a restaurant within city limits. A useful tool that expedites the research, learning and discovery process for restaurateurs.

Explore more services, business education and resource opportunities.

Information provided by city of Vancouver.