Celebrating Small Business Week with Conversations That Matter Celebrating Small Business Week with Conversations That Matter

Over the past year, through conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and economic development partners across Nova Scotia, we've heard common themes emerge: succession planning, workforce challenges, opportunities for innovation, and the growing interest in practical AI tools for small business.

Rural Small Business and Community Resilience: the power and potential of local ownership outside the city In this research talk, Dr. Karen Foster makes the case that rural small business is a critical "base of power" in rural communities that is resilient and steadfast, but constantly threatened by external forces. Decades of social science research, and the lived experience of rural small businesspeople, confirm that local ownership is strongly associated with better social, civic, economic, and health outcomes for local populations.