Caitlin Cleveland: Small Business Week 2025

Press Release

October 22, 2025

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Mr. Speaker, Happy Small Business Week.  Let us recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurs who drive our economy and enrich our communities.

Small businesses are the backbone of the Northwest Territories. Whether it is recent graduates and newcomers bringing fresh ideas and technologies, Indigenous people keeping cultural traditions strong, or long-time Northerners sharing decades of experience, these businesses reflect the values, cultures and aspirations of the people who live here.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are woven into the fabric of everyday life in the North. They fix our furnaces, fly us to communities, and help us navigate our taxes. They provide health services that support Elders, and they create spaces for fashion, food, and entertainment that reflect the diverse cultures and tastes found in the Northwest Territories. Their work touches every corner of our lives, from the essentials to the extraordinary.

The impact of small businesses goes far beyond economics. They create jobs, yes, but they also create identity. They bring innovation to our doorstep, and build relationships that strengthen the social fabric of communities and regions.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses in the NWT have shown remarkable resilience. They have adapted to changing markets, embraced new technologies, and continued to serve their communities through challenging times. Their creativity and determination are a testament to the strength of Northerners.

As Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, I am proud to oversee programs that help people overcome the costs of starting up, offer advice and guidance on growing their businesses, and provide support during crises that threaten their survival.

To ground our commitments in tangible action, the Government of the Northwest Territories offers several programs to support small businesses. These include the ITI’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development program, which provides funding for start-ups and expansions; loans, investments, and business services offered through Prosper NWT, where we have strategically increased limits for eligible loans from $2 million to $5 million; and support for workforce development for employers that help them continue to grow the NWT’s skilled workforce through Education, Culture and Employment. These initiatives help entrepreneurs move forward – whether it is accessing capital, finding mentorship, or navigating the challenges of building a business.

We are also helping businesses become future-ready with new technologies that build long-term resilience. This week, Prosper NWT is partnering with the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce to offer a cybersecurity session for small businesses. Other upcoming workshops take a deeper look at cybersecurity and explore the growing potential of AI.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all residents to take a moment this week to think about the goods and services they rely on every day, and to recognize the local businesses that make it all possible. Whether it is a warm meal, a repaired vehicle, a helping hand, or a funded sports team, small businesses are there for us because they are us.

Across the territory, communities are hosting events that showcase the creativity, resilience, and diversity of our entrepreneurs. These celebrations are not just about business; they are about community, connection, and the everyday impact small businesses have on our lives.

Small businesses are here for all of us. Let us be there for them. I challenge all of my colleagues to support a new-to-them NWT business this week!

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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