Business Retention and Expansion

In keeping with the action items outlined in the 2023-2027 Southgate Community Strategic Plan – formulated with the feedback of the community – we launched the 2024 Southgate Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) project. A BR+E is a community-wide effort that emphasizes personal business visits to identify the needs of local businesses. The main goals of this BR+E were to:

1. Identify the needs, concerns, and opportunities of existing local businesses in order that, where appropriate, action can be taken to respond to the businesses’ needs or development opportunities.

2. Learn of the plans of the area’s local businesses with respect to expansion, relocation, and/or retention and assess where assistance can be provided.

3. Demonstrate the community’s pro-business attitude and develop an effective means of communication with local businesses.

Information for the BR+E was gathered mainly through 30-40 minute in-person interviews with business owners conducted by the Township's Economic Development staff as a means of directing future activities.

The BR+E report and actions were presented to and approved by the Township’s Council at its July 3rd, 2024, regular meeting. Read the media release, here, and the corresponding BR+E report below.