Economic Development

Business Development Initiative

Energy Services BC planned a three year project that will provide education and business development services that will assist Northern BC companies in building on contract opportunities in the oil and gas sector. Community Futures has assisted this project through assisting in proposal development to move this project forward through in kind services and accessing project funds from Western Economic Diversification. Partner dollars were also contributed from BP Resources, Ministry of Energy & Mines, North Peace Economic Development Commission, South Peace Economic Commission and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. Contact Business Development Officer Scott Gordon, Energy Services BC for further information on the Business Development Initiative 250 787-7444. View BDI Executive Summary (112 KB)

Peace Region Museum of History & Paleontology

Community Futures has been working with TR Museum Foundation to move forward a Regional Museum for Northern BC to provide a world class paleontology collection and display center protecting the prehistoric history of BC. For more information go to: www.tumblerridgemuseum.com.
Download Proposal (244 KB)

Northeast BC Skills Force Advisory Council

CFPL has taken a lead role with the Chambers of Commerce of northern BC to form a council to address today's skills force issues. If you are a business who would like to sit on this council please contact skenny@communityfutures.biz
Download Presentation   (1,900 KB)
Download Strategic Planning Session    (152 KB)
Member Directory   (44 KB)

Northeast Regional Community Foundation

CFPL has taken the lead in forming a Northeast Community Regional Foundation in the northeast. A foundation that will respond to all sectors in the northeast region. View more information or contact skenny@communityfutures.biz
Download Presentation (7,300 KB)

Investment Ready Project for the South Peace Region

Community Futures is working with the Communities in the South Peace Region to create a website and profile to attract industry and people to the region.

Coordinator for the South Peace Economic Development Commission

The South Peace Economic Development Commission (SPEDC) is an economic development commission established by the municipalities and rural areas of the South Peace region of the Peace River Regional District.

www.southpeacebc.ca

Hudson’s Hope Economic Development Strategic Plan

Mayor and Council have commissioned the development of the economic development strategy for the District of Hudson’s Hope that reflects their current situation. It is based upon the community’s vision for the future, and identifies action plans that will allow the community to achieve that vision for the future.

The objectives of the economic development strategy are to identify and confirm the unfulfilled or under-serviced niches of the community. Confirm the market potential of prioritized unfulfilled and under-serviced niches, i.e. analyze those business opportunities that show the most promise of succeeding in Hudson’s Hope. Articulate a strategy that utilizes the study’s findings, this includes:

Identifying what the District can do, within the scope, function and power of municipal government, to enhance its competitiveness for attracting new investment;
Identifying specific marketing targets;
Identifying accompanying marketing and recruitment activities for the strategy;
Identifying the ‘tools’ required to implement the recruitment strategy;
Identifying the financial resources required to implement the strategy;
Identifying potential sources of funding to help them garner the financial resources needed.

Ultimately, the master strategy will result in the creation of document-based ‘tools’ that the District can share with the existing business community in order to help them with their expansion based decisions, and the District can share with prospective developers that are considering, or in the process of, building new commercial infrastructure.

Two sets of deliverables have been anticipated by the District of Hudson’s Hope. A master strategy that accomplishes and encompasses the project’s main objectives, and document-based tools that will be used by the District to complete the actions articulated in the master strategy. Community Futures also ensures a strategy that will include participation from all members of the community and a commitment that Community Futures will assist, within our organization’s capacity, with the implementation of identified strategies to increase business activity in the District of Hudson’s Hope.

Pouce Coupe Economic Development Strategic Plan

Very extensive research was done through community consultations, Mayor and Council consultations, as well as interviews with partners, the Regional District and the City of Dawson Creek. There has been current research done on housing in the northeast region, senior needs and sustainable development. Outcomes of this research have been included as well in the economic development plan.

Labour Market Agreement

Funding had been secured from the Ministry of Economic Development and Western Economic Diversification to enable the B.C. Chamber of Commerce to undertake a process of establishing nine Regional Advisory Councils throughout the province. The funding also assisted in regional coordination of nine councils through the Provincial Coordinating Group.

The Regional Skills Advisory Councils were established with a mandate to act as a coordinating body in developing and implementing innovative, locally-based workplace skills initiatives. These Regional Skills Advisory Councils are comprised of representation from:

• business organizations

• educational institutions

• training organizations

• business service providers

• First Nations

• government

• other relevant community-based organizations

The Regional Skills Advisory Councils represent the industry sectors and stakeholder groups that are active in each region. The number of participants in each Skills Advisory Council is between 20 to 25 stakeholder representatives. Local Chambers of Commerce and Community Futures organizations worked closely with the project consultants to identify the appropriate representatives for the Councils. Since similar issues are impacting businesses across B.C., Regional Small Business Advisory Groups were established in all regions of the province. The B.C. Chamber of Commerce undertook the task to establish Regional Skills Advisory Councils in the following regions1:

• Kootenay/Boundary

• East Kootenay/Columbia

• Thomson/Nicola Valley/Shuswap

• Vancouver Island (exception of metro Victoria)

• Sea to Sky/Sunshine Coast

• North East

• Cariboo/Chilcotin

• Okanagan

• North West

Essential Skills Initiative

Community Futures has partnered with Northern Lights College to provide local businesses with funds to deliver a skills review with employees to improve productivity and HR practices.

Dawson Creek Auction Mart

Community Futures is working with the Dawson Creek Exhibition Association to increase opportunities to market livestock in the Northeast region. Community Futures applied for funds to Western Development for Community Adjustment Funding. DC Auction Mart received $100,000 to support the rebuild of the DC Auction Mart. A loan was submitted to Northern Trust by Community Futures to access .5 million to complete the project. The DC Auction Mart is now under construction with the end result being a top notch facility to market livestock to the continent.