What is a Business Walk?

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A Business Walk brings together business owners, local leaders and government representatives to gather feedback about the current business climate.

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The goal is to identify what parts of the economy are working well and where resources or policies might be implemented to remove barriers to business success.

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When is it?

 

Tuesday, October 24th, 2023 from 8:30am -12pm.

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Where will it be?

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We will be visiting businesses in Newport County which includes Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth and Tiverton. 

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Which businesses can participate?

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Businesses who are actively operating in either Bristol or Newport County can participate. Know another business who would like to be interviewed? Please share our Business Sign up form 

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How are the interviews conducted?

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IVolunteer interviewers will be assigned to a small team and to visit three to four businesses in a local buisness district. Where possible, businesses will be a short walking distance or carpooling will be available if businesess are spread further apart.

 

Each interview will be 15-20 minutes long and is a conversational format. The interview team will ask questions like

 

• How is your business doing?

• What do you like about doing business here?

• What could be done to improve the business climate? 

 

Our goal is to understand what is going well for businesses and what assistance might be needed to reduce barriers or resolve an issue.

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Who is organizing the Business Walk?​

 

The business walk is organized by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce through its regional economic development division, Connect Greater Newport.
 

How will the information from the interviews be used?

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Information collected from the interviews will be developed into a report with recommendations that will be shared with all participants, government officials, business leaders and the broader community to help meet the needs of our businesses.

 

We held our first business walk in 2019, and met with with more than 80 businesses in the region. Read the 2019 Business Pulse Report here  

 

​During the pandemic, we conducted our walk virtually, interviewing more than fifty businesses by phone or video call. Read 2021 Business Pulse Report here

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Who can I contact for more information?

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Our Business Outreach Specialist, Isabel Marsh will be happy to assist. Contact Isabel