The mayor, city councillors, city staff, and chamber staff and directors paid Trim Line Graphics & Signs a visit Tuesday – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – A new program has been launched that will allow local businesses to provide direct feedback on what it’s like to do business in Prince George.

The BizRide program is a partnership between the City of Prince George and the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and is helping to mark Small Business Month in B.C.

During the BizRide, five teams comprised of the mayor, city councillors, city administrators and chamber directors and executives will be visiting 29 businesses in the city’s five major commercial areas: downtown, the Hart, the Carter Light industrial area, the BC industrial area and College Heights.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get out into the business community and talk to small businesses and see what hurdles they’re having to overcome in their day-to-day business life,” says Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall, who adds it’s a nice complement to the Talktober meetings the city is holding this month.

“The feedback is going to be no different than what we use at our Talktober events. It’s something we can look at for strategic planning down the road.”

Chamber of Commerce president Cindy Pohl says local businesses are looking forward to the opportunity.

“They were very excited about it and we got many of our members to participate and that’s huge.”

BizRide kicked off today at Trim Line Graphics & Signs. Owner Nolan Nicholson thinks it’s a good idea.

“I think if it’s done properly, it’s really going to help businesses to engage. But businesses have to buy into it. I don’t want it to be a waste of time.”