Toronto’s small, independent businesses are more than storefronts. They are the economic and social glue of neighbourhoods — employers, community hubs, and taxpayers whose decisions shape the city’s everyday life. But when economic pressures intensify or external shocks hit, these local economies can quickly become vulnerable. In early 2025, the City of Toronto launched the Love Local  campaign as part of a broader strategy to protect local businesses and strengthen economic

In December 2025, the UK government announced new funding designed to help small businesses cut costs and invest in sustainability. Unlike most policy headlines, this one wasn’t about big targets or future ambitions — it was about real pressure facing real businesses today , and what it means when policy meets lived business conditions. Small firms can now access support through the expanded Made Smarter Adoption Programme  to reduce energy bills and adopt technology like im