Business retention study aids Boundary business
By Contributor
A project to review local businesses’ needs will be underway soon after funding was secured from the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC).
At their Jan. 30 meeting the SIBAC board voted in favour of supporting an application from Community Futures Boundary for $10,000.00 to complete a business retention and expansion project.
SIBAC Director Grace McGregor (Regional District of Kootenay Boundary) said, “The SIBAC Board viewed this application as an opportunity to support a project that will be beneficial to businesses in the Boundary area and a process that is useful in other similar communities in the Province.”
The completion of the study will enhance information available to decision makers about the needs and concerns of the Boundary business community, and make available to the region best practises and tools in business retention and expansion.
“Business retention and expansion has been identified as a priority in the Boundary region through consultations with key economic development stakeholders and local businesses. The findings will ultimately strengthen the competitiveness of Boundary communities,” explained Community Futures Boundary general manager, Wendy McCulloch.
SIBAC is one of three Beetle Action Coalitions in B.C.’s Interior regions created in 2005-2006 to develop and implement mitigation plans in order to help affected communities endure the impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
The funding is intended to support projects approved by the Beetle Action Coalitions that will create business partnerships, diversify local and regional economies, find innovative and value-added uses for forest resources and explore new industries to assist rural interior communities through this transition.
Visit: www.sibacs.com.
