The City of Brampton is celebrating Small Business Month this October, using the occasion to spotlight the role local entrepreneurs play in the city's economy.
The announcement, made in a September 23 release, comes at the end of a busy stretch for the city's economic development office, which has racked up a series of recognitions and investments over the past several months.
A run of national recognition
On September 1, the city announced it had been recognized by Site Selection as one of Canada's 20 most competitive metro locations for investment, according to Invest Brampton, the city's economic development office.
Weeks earlier, in August, Brampton's Economic Development Office earned a second consecutive accreditation from the International Economic Development Council, a professional body for economic development organizations.
The city also received top marks in another ranking: Brampton was named Canada's top Food and Beverage Processing Cluster by Business Facilities Magazine, an announcement made in early August.
New investment on the ground
The recognition has been matched by concrete investment. On June 23, the City of Brampton welcomed a combined $5.2 million from the Government of Canada, aimed at supporting business growth, innovation and competitiveness.
The city has also been working to help local firms weather ongoing trade disruption. In September, Brampton laid out a 10-Point Economic Resilience Plan in response to U.S. tariffs, which the city says continue to disrupt cross-border trade and put pressure on Canadian businesses.
One of the city's largest employers-in-waiting also reached a milestone over the summer. In July, the City of Brampton joined lululemon to celebrate the completion of the athletic apparel company's Brampton Distribution Centre.
Why small business matters here
The October spotlight ties those bigger headlines back to the local entrepreneurs who anchor Brampton's commercial neighbourhoods, from downtown storefronts to businesses across the city's food and beverage, logistics, advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, and technology sectors.
The city's Small Business Month coverage follows years of sustained outreach through its Entrepreneur Centre, which supports new and growing businesses in Brampton.
For local business owners, the month offers a chance to take advantage of city programs and supports as Brampton heads into the final quarter of the year.
Details about the Small Business Month celebrations and the city's business supports are available on the Invest Brampton website.
