Fredericton Businesses, Bring Us Your Barriers! - April 6, 2010
Fredericton Businesses, Bring Us Your Barriers! - April 6, 2010
One month ago I kicked off my ‘Your Business’ column with the idea that our entire community can do more to make Fredericton a great place for newcomers. This time, I’d like be specific in exploring how Fredericton can become the best city in New Brunswick for starting and growing a business. Heck, in all of Canada even!
Yes, I’ve borrowed this goal from the New Brunswick Business Council, but consider it imitation as flattery. I’m pleased and encouraged to know that our province’s most successful business leaders are working together to improve New Brunswick’s economic prospects.
We know the tangible factors that make a city a great place to do business. It’s about providing things like low taxes, a skilled-labour pool, strong institutions, and affordable space. But, aside from the concrete and measurable, there are also values somewhat harder to measure—like entrepreneurial spirit, a liveable city and the welcoming atmosphere I described a month ago. In the end, I think it’s a combination of all of these things that makes a city great for business.
KPMG just released its Comparative Alternatives Study for 2010, which compares business location costs and success factors internationally. This study deems Fredericton to be the third most cost effective city in which to operate a business in all of the United States and Canada. This is an impressive result, especially since it includes leadership in key growth sectors such as biotechnology, product testing and software design.
So, the statistics are on our side. This leaves us with questions. If we know the things we can do to make a city good for business, is there anything we can do differently to make a city even better? What about our people, and our regulatory environment? Once we attract a company here with the numbers, is the public climate right to help ensure its success?
I’ve been told that Moncton rolls out the red carpet to new business. Its municipal staff and regional partners are perceived to bend over backward when helping entrepreneurs move in and get going. A specific example described bylaws being modified and rules amended in order for a business to set up downtown. While each situation is unique, an impression was made on this enterprising individual.
On the flip side, it’s been suggested to me that Fredericton can seem resistant to change and unwilling to be flexible in supporting small business initiatives. I’ve also heard perceptions expressed about Fredericton’s consumers being conservative and hesitant to try new things.
Whether that perception is born from fact or fiction, I’d like Fredericton’s reputation to be that of a highly encouraging and supportive city of municipal, agency and community partners. A city where consumers are quick to try new products, services and models—where “Buy Local” is a song we all sing daily.
The precedent exists; Fredericton was the first municipality to deliver free wireless Internet access to its downtown and business districts. It’s that kind of forward-thinking and business-friendly practices we need to celebrate, replicate and expand.
The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce wants to help make Fredericton the best place to start and grow a business in Canada. The City of Fredericton has been working hard to achieve the results described in KPMG’s study and we‘d like to do our part. I’m pleased to announce that our economic development committee, made up of chamber members, is launching a campaign that seeks to hear from local business people on ways Fredericton can improve.
We want to hear the stories of barriers you’ve encountered in setting up or expanding your business. We’re hunting for processes and paperwork that have held you back, or sent you running in circles, instead of servicing your customers. Have frustrations from dealing with red tape instead of your revenues? Send them to us. Whether by email, phone, in person, or through our website – the more tales of red tape terror, the better!
The City of Fredericton is onboard and ready to help identify ways to improve services to our capital’s entrepreneurs. I’m confident that our provincial partners will also join in, to refine the government’s touch-points with the business community, wherever possible.
As the chamber moves forward, to establish Fredericton as the entrepreneur’s destination of choice, we hope the city’s consumers will join us. The vast majority of businesses in Fredericton are home-grown enterprises and are worthy of our support.
Companies like Aitken’s Pewter, The Barking Lot, The Urban Almanac General Store and Westminster Books are all fine examples of local retailers. Firms like ADI, Green Imaging Technologies and Remsoft are proud to call Fredericton home.
Our city will become known as the best place to be in business when the community throws its support behind local businesses and leaders with their voices, votes and dollars. With our governments co-operating to streamline process, enhance services and create innovative programs for business-makers, I’m optimistic that we’re on our way from third to first!
To Read the Daily Gleaner Article
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