Started in 2015, district staff members and volunteers from the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce walk around to an average of 60 different local businesses and speak with owners about what their needs are during the event.
A variety of programs for business owners have been started since these walks began. One being the Business Facade Improvement Program, which was started in 2015 in collaboration with the Northern Development Initiative Trust to provide a grant covering up to $5,000 of eligible costs to improve things like signs, and exterior walls.
The recently implemented Commercial Centre Revitalization Tax Exemption Program offers certain reductions on municipal property taxes to store owners who have ongoing construction being done on their building. A 50 per cent exemption is given to successful applicants for five years, though additional work could extend that time frame up to 10 years.
Having only launched in October, Cameron Orr, business and communications manager for the district, says he hopes to see more business owners take advantage of the tax exemption program following this year’s walk.
Orr explained that during these walks, they often ask about business growth, what some of the pros and cons are of running a business in Kitimat, and if there are any resources that would better help them succeed.
