I hope you have all been enjoying the autumn season. As we say goodbye to summer, I thought I’d share some exciting news for the fall. October is Small Business Month, so I will start by acknowledging our Nova Scotian-owned member businesses, which are at the very heart of our community.

One of our goals at CUA is to support our commercial members in their business and not-for-profit ventures. A recent study indicates that factors such as labour shortages and ongoing supply chain issues are continuing to impact the long-term confidence of Canadian small business owners. That’s why our team is here to help. We have seen a number of success stories from members who have taken advantage of products such as our Small Business Loan Guarantee Program. We also aim to support small businesses and non-profit organizations each year through our annual Community Investment Grant Program, which will be coming up in January.

As we continue to navigate high inflation in Nova Scotia, a reminder that supporting small businesses on a budget is possible. Our CUAdvice article Budget Friendly Ways to Support Small Businesses offers ideas on how to show love to your favourite Nova Scotia-based businesses while keeping your own budget in mind. And through our recently revamped Community Partners Program, you can shop at businesses in your community while receiving CUA member-exclusive offers and discounts.

As part of our focus on Nova Scotian-owned businesses this month, and as a Halifax Chamber of Commerce banking Affinity Partner, I’d like to remind you that CUA offers access to flexible banking solutions and preferred rates to members of the Chamber. If you don’t already know as a member of the Chamber, you can receive cost-saving benefits, networking opportunities, and the chance to strengthen your voice in the Halifax business community. Learn more about our exclusive banking benefits for Halifax Chamber of Commerce members and stay up to date on Small Business Month news and events.

And in recognition of ALL our members, we have an exciting day coming up next month. On Thursday, November 2nd, we are holding our annual Member Appreciation Day. Each year, we like to recognize our members with exciting giveaways and in-branch celebrations. For 2023, we have some wonderful prizes planned for participating members, with the contest closing at 4 p.m. on November 2nd. These prizes include early-bird giveaway draws each Friday throughout October, so make sure to cast your ballots early in order to be eligible. We look forward to celebrating you, our wonderful members.  

I hope you all enjoy the rest of the fall, and take the time to support a small business in your community. As always, if you have any questions about our products, services or upcoming events, you can reach us at 902.492.6500 or at info@cua.com.