As Small Business Month and Community Living Month wrap up, Vancouver Island Community Connections (VICC) celebrates with a Purposeful Purchasing campaign.

鈥淧urposeful Purchasing is about recognizing that every dollar spent, if spent with purpose, will advance the economic inclusion of people with disabilities,鈥� says Robb Webb, a VICC job developer. 鈥淭he campaign highlights how inclusive hiring practices can increase business sales. Successful companies believe that a necessary business practice is to have their employees reflect the makeup of their customer base.鈥�

Vancouver Island Community Connections helps match local adults with developmental disabilities with progressive employers in the Comox Valley. Its Purposeful Purchasing campaign, says Webb, aims to change spending habits in support of businesses with inclusive hiring practices.

鈥淭here are over 300 people accessing Community Living BC services in the Comox Valley, and all those people have family, friends, co-workers and neighbours. Add everyone in the Comox Valley who works in the community living field, along with their families and friends, and that鈥檚 a lot of purchasing power.鈥�

If you鈥檇 like to know more about Purposeful Purchasing, or would like to find out how your business can make it part of your advertising and marketing plan, please call the Community Employment Service at 250-871-7201, or email viccemployment@gmail.com.