Portage Economic Response Team launches regional business walk blitz

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The Portage Economic Response Team organized its first Regional Business Walk Blitz from Tuesday to Friday to assess the economic landscape and challenges local businesses face. The initiative is part of the community’s broader economic development strategy launched last year, emphasizing collaboration among various agencies to bolster regional business support.

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During the blitz, 11 teams of representatives from multiple economic development organizations visited businesses across Portage la Prairie. Each team conducted brief, confidential meetings with business owners and managers, posing three key questions to better understand their current operations, future aspirations, and the assistance they may need.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to connect directly with the businesses in our community,” said Eve O’Leary, director of economic development for Portage Regional Economic Development.

“Our goal is to gather insights that will inform our economic initiatives and strategies moving forward.”

The information collected will be analyzed to identify trends and common challenges, enabling the team to develop tailored solutions for business owners.

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“By understanding the pulse of our business community, we can address barriers and facilitate growth,” O’Leary added.

The collaborative effort involves several partners, including the City of Portage, Community Futures, and the Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the importance of a unified approach to economic development. Following the blitz, the team plans to compile a report detailing their findings, which will be presented to the business community in early 2025.

“Economic development cannot be done in isolation,” said O’Leary.

“This holistic approach ensures that we are meeting the needs of our businesses and, by extension, benefiting consumers in the region.”

Mayor Sharilyn Knox took part in the business walks. She said each business will hopefully benefit from the initiative.

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“Let’s look at, say, a small business, right? They’re busy, not only working their stores, they’re busy doing all the business side of things, so maybe they haven’t figured out how to grow. Well, maybe we can offer that support to get them the resources they need to do that,” she said.

“Large businesses, just talking about some of their challenges, you know, it can trickle down into our businesses growing, into the challenges that those business owners face being met, and hopefully just cause our business community to thrive,” Knox said.

This initiative marks a significant step for the Portage Economic Response Team, as it has not been undertaken before in a regional context. Businesses were mapped out by section which teams of two will then visit during the blitz. The team hopes to make the Business Walk Blitz an annual event, reinforcing ongoing communication and support for the local business sector.

To find out more about the PRED and the Portage Economic Response Team, check out investinportage.ca

— Renee Lilley is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Portage Graphic. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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