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VOLUME 123 ISSUE 47 $1.35
■ NEWS:
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Rockets losing streak hits seven
Golden getting ready for Christmas season ....................................4
■ ARTS & CULTURE:
Golden Broadway Review coming back ..................................11
■ SPORTS:
Freeski experts offer girls camp at KHMR ..................................13
■ COMMUNITY:
Defenceman Matt McMath (front) clears the puck from the front of the net as defense partner Michael Anderson (behind) and goaltender Adam Johnson look on in the second period of Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Fernie Ghostriders. Joel Tansey/Star Photo
BRE survey: Business growing and expanding Resident recalls his school burning down ..................................16
Joel Tansey reporter@thegoldenstar.net The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute was in Golden last Thursday to present Golden Area Initiatives’ findings from a Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) survey that was administered to 114 businesses in town. Among the businesses that agreed to participate, the largest percentage was in the retail and wholesale industry, with 26 per cent,
while 21 per cent were in the accommodation and food services industry. Interestingly, only five per cent of the businesses reported that their business was declining, while 11 per cent believed their business was emerging and 53 per cent said that their business was growing. These numbers represent a very positive sign of growth for business in Golden. Somewhat unique to this area, 47 per cent of the businesses that were surveyed have been in business for 10 years or less,
which is evidence that there are plenty of new businesses opening up around town. Additionally, 52 per cent of businesses reported that they had plans for expansion within the next three years and among the businesses that were set to expand, $413 million would be spent on those plans, although the vast majority of that money would be sent by just a few businesses. Continued on page 5