Home Based Business Association to Expand to the South Okanagan Similkameen

Penticton, B.C. -- (DATE) 2005

The Central Okanagan Home Based Business Association (COHBBA) headquartered in Kelowna is now expanding into the South Okanagan Similkameen region by assisting with the formation of a partner organization called South Okanagan Similkameen Home Based Business Association (SOSHBBA).

With an estimated 6,000 home based businesses in the South Okanagan Similkameen alone*, Dirk Theurer (COHBBA's Membership Director and Web Manager) is positive that this South Okanagan Similkameen branch will become an active and vital partner to COHBBA.

Who is eligible to join SOSHBBA? Anyone who owns or operates a small or home based business or anyone that has an interest in business with the goal of one day being self-employed. You will find benefits in belonging to this organization.

As part of this new association's efforts, Dirk (of Page Step Web and Print Design - www.pagestep.com), will be re-branding the COHBBA web site to "Okanagan Home Business" to reflect the cooperation of these groups as well as re-organizing the site to meet the needs of the various groups. "There are plans," he said, "that include the formation of another partner group in the North Okanagan."

SOSHBBA will offer supportive, professional forums for all home based businesses to share expertise to become more successful. The group will hold monthly meetings with informative speakers on a wide range of business topics, and act as an advocate for home based businesses.

Wendy McCulloch and her team at CFDC Okanagan Similkameen are providing tremendous support for SOSHBBA, and SOSHBBA is consulting with the various South Okanagan Similkameen Chambers of Commerce as we plan our first public Information Session at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7th at the Community Futures Office at 102 - 3115 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton. Pre-registration is required by calling Lisa at 493-2566 or 1-877-493-5566, or by visiting the COHBBA web site at www.cohbba.org and selecting the SOSHBBA menu item.

A research study was conducted by COHBBA on the surprisingly large number of home based businesses in the central Okanagan, the economic contribution they make, and profiles of the average operators. The average home based business owners are between 35 and 64, have no children living at home, and operate the business as a primary source of income.

For more information, check out COHBBA's website www.cohbba.org and select the SOSHBBA menu item.

* Source: Provided by CFDC Okanagan Similkameen; derived from Federal and Provincial Statistics.