Perth Businesses Invited to Help Shape Local Economic Priorities

More than 30 local businesses have already shared what it’s like to do business in Perth. Now, the Town of Perth is inviting even more businesses to join the conversation and help shape what comes next.

Through the Town’s Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) initiative, local business owners and operators are taking part in confidential, one-on-one conversations about what’s working, the challenges they’re facing, and where they see opportunities for Perth’s business community to grow.

The goal is simple: to hear directly from the people doing business in Perth and use that feedback to help guide future economic development priorities, partnerships, and business supports.

“We don’t want to make assumptions about what the business community needs. We want to hear directly from the people who are running businesses here every day,” said Cathy McNally, Director of Community Services. “We’ve already had some really valuable conversations, but we know there are many more perspectives to hear.”

Businesses of all sizes and across all sectors within the Town of Perth are encouraged to participate. Whether a business has been part of the community for decades or has only recently opened its doors, the confidential interviews provide an opportunity for owners and operators to speak openly about their experiences, challenges, needs, and ideas.

“Every business has a different experience, and that perspective matters,” said McNally. “The more businesses we hear from, the better we can understand where there are opportunities to make a difference.”

The BR+E initiative will continue through March 2027. Once the interviews are complete, the Town will identify common themes and priorities and use the findings to help inform future economic development planning and actions to support Perth’s business community.

Businesses interested in participating can contact Barbara King, Business Retention & Expansion Coordinator, at bking@perth.ca or 613-267-3311 ext. 2226.

For more information about the initiative, visit Engage.Perth.ca/BRE.

The Business Retention & Expansion initiative is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs through the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program.