Initiatives
Economic Assessment of Highway 97: Constraints to Movement of Goods and Opportunities for Economic Growth
Recently completed studies led by the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure highlight the opportunities for economic growth in northern BC if improvements are made to several structures in the Pine Pass. The Northern Development study focused on the economic business case and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure study provided engineered options and costing.
The proposed improvements are crucial in order provide access to resource development opportunities for northern BC companies, including goods and services now imported from Alberta that represent a market estimated at $2 billion annually.
Better access through the Pine Pass will provide substantial opportunities for several existing industries already located in the Quesnel – Dawson Creek Corridor that can expect to compete for new clients and markets for their goods and services in industry sectors such as metal fabricating, prefabricated buildings, oil and gas field machinery, mining services, and transportation and storage.
Northwest Corridor Manufacturing Strategy
The purpose of the Northwest Corridor Manufacturing Strategy (published June 2008) is:
- To identify promising manufacturing industries for investment and job creation in northern BC communities in the short to medium term (1-5 years).
- To provide a background on the region’s economic strengths and major existing industries.
- To outline an ongoing methodology and plan for identifying new industries and opportunities for communities to create jobs in emerging sectors.
- To provide background on promising industries and their needs so that communities can market to attract associated jobs and investment.
- To provide an understanding of the increased trade opportunities associated with Northwest Gateway investments and container port development.
- To set out a plan to continuously identify emerging opportunities and assist communities in attracting investment and jobs in manufacturing.
Northern Development wishes to help attract new jobs and investment to central and northern BC communities. This report is a first step in that process. It is not intended to be an economic development strategy for all northern communities. Rather, it is intended to set out a series of potential industries that make sense based on initial analysis and can be acted upon immediately by communities to attract jobs.
Communities that are pursuing attraction of industry and investment, as discussed in the Northwest Corridor Manufacturing Strategy, should review Northern Development’s new Industry Attraction funding program. The program offers up to $20,000 in matched funding to support targeted industry attraction by communities in central and northern British Columbia.
Local Procurement Forums
Local purchasing has an enormous potential to stimulate the central and northern British Columbia economy and foster associated job opportunities. The bulk of future job growth in BC is expected to be in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector rather than through larger firms. With anticipated growth in the mining sector within the region over the next decade, there will be considerable opportunities for local enterprise to supply goods and services to large mining operations. It is crucial that local suppliers gain access to the procurement processes of these large operations – Northern Development is dedicated to supporting local suppliers and promoting local procurement through a number of means including coordinating Local Procurement Forums attended by executives and supply chain management personnel representing new, large operations that are locating or expanding within the region, and local business representatives.
Northern Development promotes local procurement via all direct business incentives, which are focused on incenting business to procure eligible goods and services locally within the region.
For information on upcoming Local Industry Procurement Forums and to stay up-to-date, subscribe to Northern Development News or check our News page regularly.
Student Bursary Program
Northern Development provides a $2,000 bursary annually to one student from each of the five post-secondary institutions located in central and northern British Columbia.
Eligibility for the Student Bursary Program:
- Candidates must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student of business programs and a ten year resident of central or northern BC;
- Candidates must demonstrate a financial need; academic proficiency, and
- Candidates must submit a 300-500 word letter outlining their current and future involvement in the community and how it fits with the vision and mission of Northern Development.
For more information on how to apply for a Northern Development Student Bursary, please contact the educational institutions directly.
Eligible educational institutions:
- Northwest Community College
www.nwcc.bc.ca/ - Northern Lights College
nlc.bc.ca/index.php - College of New Caledonia
www.cnc.bc.ca/ - University of Northern British Columbia
www.unbc.ca/ - Thompson Rivers University
www.tru.ca/
Economic Assessment of Highway 97: Constraints to Movement of Goods and Opportunities for Economic Growth
Economic Assessment
of Highway 97
(5.6 MB PDF)
Northwest Corridor Manufacturing Strategy
Northwest Corridor Manufacturing Strategy
(3.3 MB PDF)
