Small Business BC (SBBC) — a non-profit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses — last week declared bankruptcy and ceased operations, resulting in lay-offs for around 36 staff.

Founded in 2002, SBBC equipped business owners with essential information, tools, and resources. It offered a range of support through setting up consultations with experts, facilitating workshops and seminars, and administering programs — some of which were government funded. These included the Canada Digital Adoption Program, a federal initiative to help businesses adopt technology to improve efficiency and competitiveness, and Export Navigator, a provincial service guiding companies in expanding into domestic and international markets.