Business survey offers insight into Kawartha Lakes economy
When it comes to providing insight into community economics, every business counts.
Council has a better idea of what Kawartha Lakes businesses are up to courtesy of the 2023 Kawartha Lakes Business Count survey and Insight Report, shared recently by economic development manager Rebecca Mustard.
The Kawartha Lakes Business Count project was launched in 2021 to provide the municipality with in-depth information to understand and strengthen the local economy and inform policies and programs.
The initiative helps provide a snapshot of the municipal economy, provide enhanced regional employment and workforce data, and enhance communication channels between businesses and the municipality.
Last year’s business count project surveyed the same geography as the 2021 and 2022 surveys, offering in-person and online participation. It was also expanded to include additional commercial areas.
For 2023, the survey included the downtown areas of Bobcaygeon, Coboconk and Norland, Fenelon Falls, Omemee and Lindsay, industrial areas in Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Pontypool, and, for the first time, commercial areas on Kent Street West and Lindsay Street
South in Lindsay.
The survey was conducted between June and August in partnership with local chambers of commerce and the Lindsay Downtown BIA.
Data garnered from the 672 businesses and employment properties that participated in the survey includes:
■ A total of 6,479 jobs.
■ 64 per cent are independent businesses.
■ 43 per cent of businesses are members of a Chamber of Commerce or the Lindsay Downtown BIA.
■ 64 per cent of businesses plan to hire in the future and 12 per cent of businesses plan to expand their space.
“These insights will continue to become more representative of the Kawartha Lakes business community in subsequent years, as the geographic scope of the survey expands,” Mustard stated.
Mustard pointed out that as growth has occurred over the past three years, the survey results have as well. Not only are there more businesses, but the “quality of data” has improved.
Despite this skewing data slightly, Mustard noted, these will be “really fascinating pieces to look into” over time.
As the business count project continues to be delivered annually, insights may be compared year over year to track changes in employment and business activity across the municipality, she continued.
Reports for the previous year’s surveys are available at kawarthalakes.ca/businesscount.