Economic Development - Partnerships

At Community Futures Central Kootenay we are dedicated to working with communities and organizations to develop partnerships to further the growth and vitality of our region.

The Invest Kootenay Partnership (IKP) was established by the cities of Castlegar and Nelson in 2005 with support from Community Futures Central Kootenay and the chambers of commerce in Castlegar and Nelson. The partnership has grown to include the East Kootenays, and currently has nine partners. The partnership now consists of the following communities:

Nelson

Castlegar

Boundary Area

Revelstoke

Kootenay Lake

Radium

Fernie

Sparwood

Elkford

The Invest Kootenay Partnership was established to pursue, jointly, efficiently and effectively, local and regional economic development initiatives aimed at attracting out-of-area investment. Invest Kootenay is not a whole economic development program but it is an important tool in this area’s economic development toolbox.

The cornerstones of the program are:

• Recruiting key contact points (e.g. tourism-based industries such as ski hill operators, golf course operators, hoteliers) in each community and providing them with the tools to point these potential investors in the right direction
• Making it easy for the potential investor to gather information on our communities
• Taking advantage of the Internet as the primary source of information and to create excitement around investment opportunities in the Kootenays
• Using the web page as a vehicle to make it easy for the potential investor to contact the community First Point of Contact Representative (e.g. the Economic Development Officer or equivalent)
• Complement existing economic development programs (a tool in the economic development toolbox)
• Using local community members to showcase our communities

For more information please go to www.investkootenay.com

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The Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP) is a joint partnership between the City of Nelson, Community Futures Central Kootenay, the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce and the Regional District of Central Kootenay Areas E & F. The partnership was formalised in April 2005 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the three partners. A new MOU was signed in 2010 with the addition of the RDCK.

NAEDP is based on the following approach:

• Focusing on priorities
• Being a catalyst or a driver
• Leveraging funding
• Seeking out partnerships
• Building regional collaboration
• Open door policy
• Open to opportunities

The NAEDP’s five priority areas identified in the 2011-12 workplan are:

• Business Retention & Expansion
• Business Investment & Attraction
• Communications
• Sector Strengthening
• Governance

NAEDP initiatives to date include Invest Kootenay, Business Retention and Expansion (BRE), Kootenay Business Exchange, Way Finding Maps and Signage and Sector Consultation and Strengthening.

See the 2011-2012 NAEDP report on this website under Economic Development - Reports.