Small business is an often overlooked aspect of economy.
There is not headlines with small business which come from agriculture, whether its the bumper crop of 2013, or the flooded fields in spring 2011.
We do not think of small business in the same way we do potash mines, oil fields and the allure of diamond exploration.
Even within a community a business opening its door and hiring 75 people garners more attention than a hairdresser starting to cut hair in a small corner shop somewhere.
But when you think of all the hairdressers, the small motor mechanics, dog groomers, owner operated shoe stores and second hand clothing shops, the impact across the province is massive.
A new canola crushing plant, hotel, or auto dealership might draw the greater notice in a city such as Yorkton, but the multitude of shops employing one, two, ten people, have a dramatic effect as their business dealings flow through the city.
So it is important an entrepreneurial spirit is instilled in youth, for the small businesses they launch in the years ahead will be very important to not only Yorkton, but Saskatchewan.
That is where a high school class such as Entrepreneurship 30 is such a positive innovation.
Still a relatively new class at Yorkton Regional High School helping give students some solid foundational insight into starting a business is a definite class strength.
Seeing what a group of students like those involved in Homestyle Hockey (featured in Yorkton This Week Nov, 13), clearly illustrates the value of the class.
And then there is the TransACTIONS for Youth Conference on Business which was held in Yorkton Friday.
The Conference has been around a few years now, initially looking at a broader constituency, but now focused squarely on youth.
With partners such as Yorkton Tribal Council, the initiators of the idea, and now supported by the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, with its strong foundation in entrepreneurial culture, TransACTIONS gives youth positive reinforcement they can start a business and be successful.
It is such efforts which help youth prepare to take the step into small business ownership, and to having a positive impact on our community's economy.
