Economic
Development Team
How we help.
The Economic Development & Tourism Department facilitates, promotes and enhances economic development across the community. The team is responsible for the day-to-day management of the economic development function, which includes tourism, product development, and marketing. Economic Development involves significant contact with the local business community, industries and government agencies, as well as, responsibility for gathering data research and application. Coordination of local land use planning programs to attract and enable business retention and attraction as well as encourage industry investment.
In addition to The Official Community Plan and other District documents the Economic Development team is guided by two documents ;
- The five-year Tumbler Ridge Tourism Strategy 2020-2024 entitled “Land of Ancient Footprints, Land of New Discoveries”
- Investment Readiness and Economic Development Plan, a three-year plan 2018-2020.
The department delivers business-friendly initiatives, products and programs that:
- Support and grow existing businesses and industry sectors in the community;
- Attract new businesses, residents and inward investment;
- Support and promote local services;
- Pursue the expansion of services, including community health and child care;
- Connect businesses to local and regional opportunities:
- Collect and efficiently disseminate data and information that investors are seeking;
- Provide regional cost and time-saving efficiencies, including multi-community business licences
- Deliver workshops and entrepreneur training programs.
The economic development office leads on promotional and marketing campaigns to attract new residents, investors, businesses and tourists to Tumbler Ridge and the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark. These initiatives include development of:
- New, branded Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark visitor experience guides;
- Business directories;
- Tumbler Ridge relocation guides.
Furthermore, the economic development department develops community, geopark and tourism marketing campaigns and community and destination development projects that seek to enhance the look, cohesiveness and aesthetics of the town. These enhancements are delivered in tandem with substantial Public Works repaving, utility and other infrastructure upgrades.
Recent Projects
OUR FUNCTIONS
Some of the specific functions of the department include:
Assistance in site selection for various developments and projects
Coaching for individual business owners and business start-ups, including advice and guidance for:
Idea identification and refinement
Business plan research and development
Financing
Connecting business people with the right support organizations and networks
Marketing and promotional activities
Operation and product improvement/expansion
Compilation and distribution of the community business inventory
Compilation and distribution of community statistics and demographics
Lobbying coordination for District sanctioned efforts
Other functions that may be of interest to the general community:
Community project development and management
Consulting for community development projects
Information on government assistance programs
Proposal guidance and review services
Affiliations