Economic Development

Promoting understanding and the development and dissemination of measures, methodologies and tools aimed at increasing economic resilience and reducing reliance on vulnerable economic sectors is critical to communities and regions in British Columbia. The following links provide more information for local governments and First Nations about economic diversification.

Please note that the Province of British Columbia is not responsible for the material and/or content presented on any non-provincial government site listed below.

Resources

Asia-Pacific Twinning
Is a one stop source of information and resources related to establishing, maintaining and enhancing twinning or sister-city relationships between B.C. local governments and their Asian counterparts.
http://www.bcasiatwinnings.gov.bc.ca

BC Centre for Non-Profit Development
Provides educational training, information, resources and assistance for the non-profit sector.
http://www.bccnpd.ca/home

BC Rural Network
Aims to build stronger rural and remote communities in BC by promoting better understanding of rural issues across all jurisdictions, and developing responses to rural issues.
http://www.bcruralnetwork.ca

Columbia Basin Trust
Supports efforts by the people of the Columbia Basin to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations.
http://www.cbt.org

Community Development Trust
Launched in 2008, this initiative includes three programs: the Transitional Assistance Program supports older workers as they move towards retirement; the Tuition Assistance Program helps forestry workers upgrade skills; the Job Opportunities Program creates short-term job opportunities for forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining or manufacturing resource workers.
http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt

Community Futures British Columbia
Through entrepreneurial and community development, this website has a significant impact on the socio-economic development and diversification of the rural communities it serves.
http://www.communityfutures.ca/provincial/bc

CommunityFutures.com
Lists over 200 community programs that are searchable by category, sector, and organization. These pages provide information on sources of funding and support primarily for social, economic, and environmental community development initiatives in rural areas, however the programs are not necessarily exclusive to rural.
http://www.communityfutures.com/cms/Funding_Sources.2.0.html

Economic Development Association of British Columbia
The Economic Development Association of British Columbia (EDABC) is the leading provincial association of economic development practitioners and is dedicated to providing services that support the activities, profile and development of its members and their economic development goals.
http://www.edabc.com/

Island Coastal Economic Trust
The Island Coastal Economic Trust provides funding to create new and sustainable regional economic growth through strategic investments in targeted “sectors” with the north Island, coastal and Sunshine Coast regional economy.
http://www.islandcoastaltrust.ca/index.php

National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program
Helps small and medium-sized Canadian firms develop and commercialise technology and build their innovation capacity.
http://wwwreno.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/...

Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society is a grant-making agency that assists the people of North West British Columbia, and in particular the Nechako region and Kitamaat Village, by sponsoring sustainable economic and social projects in the area most affected by the Kemano project and the creation of the Nechako Reservoir. The NKDF will invest in community economic development projects and/or programs that are supported by the community, as long as they do not subsidize private business.
http://www.nkdf.org/

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Community Foundation Funding Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Community Foundation Funding Program assists all municipalities and regional district electoral areas in the Northern Development Initiative Trust region of central and northern British Columbia in building an endowment fund that supports local social, cultural and environmental needs via local decision-making.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Economic Development Capacity Building
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Development Capacity Building Program funding provides $30,000 annually from the Cross Regional Account to ensure stable economic development funding for municipalities and regional districts. An additional $5,000 is available to each eligible local government, specifically for a collaborative project with another local government, regional economic development alliance, or another group, with outcomes that deliver measureable economic benefits to the area.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Economic Diversification Infrastructure Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Diversification Infrastructure program provides municipalities, regional districts, First Nations and non-profit groups funding via Northern Development’s six (6) principal Trust Accounts: the Regional Development Accounts (Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet, Northeast, Northwest, and Prince George), the Pine Beetle Recovery Account, and the Cross Regional Account. As Northern Development’s primary community economic development funding program, projects that serve to diversify local and regional economies are eligible for infrastructure and capital investment funding.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Feasibility Studies or Marketing Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Feasibility Studies or Marketing Program provides municipalities, regional districts, First Nations and non-profit groups such as industry associations with a grant up to a $20,000 for: a feasibility study that will demonstrate a strong business case for an infrastructure project that is aligned with Northern Development’s Economic Diversification Infrastructure funding program that will diversify and provide direct measurable economic benefits to the local or regional economy, or; development and implementation of a marketing program that will increase revenues within the region.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Industry Attraction Rebate Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Industry Attraction Rebate Program provides up to $20,000 in matched funding from the Cross Regional Account directly to communities in central and northern British Columbia to hire appropriate resources to create jobs through industry attraction. As an output from this work, communities will: understand the needs of the target industry; how they can meet those needs; and implement focused marketing and discussions with senior executives at target companies.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding/industry-attraction

Northern Development Ministers Forum
Advances the diverse and common interests of Northerners while raising awareness among decision-makers and the public about the accomplishments, contributions and potential of the North.
http://www.focusnorth.ca

Rural Team BC, Government of Canada
Uses networks to work in partnership to address priorities, and collectively support citizens and communities to build capacity for self-reliance and resilience.
http://www.rural.gc.ca/team/bc/bchome_e.phtml

Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust
A $50-million Southern Interior Development Initiative will give communities the funding and ability to create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and more jobs. The mission of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust is to support regionally strategic investments in economic development projects that will have long-lasting and measurable regional benefits for the Southern Interior.
http://www.sidit-bc.ca/

Volunteer Futures
Is an annual training event for boards of directors from around the province, a forum where board members come together to learn, grow their organization and draw energy and inspiration from interacting with other volunteer leaders from BC’s voluntary sector.
http://www.volunteerbc.bc.ca/volbc/documents/flyer.pdf (PDF, 100KB)

Volunteer Vancouver Leaders Forum
Has now opened registration for their Leaders Forum 2009, which will include a full day training session looking at building better boards, staff management, the wired not-for-profit, mission-based marketing, financial empowerment, planning, and social entrepreneurship.
https://www.netforumondemand.com/eWeb/...