Every year, the District of Lillooet receives up to $30,000 from Northern Development's Economic Development Capacity Building to support local community economic development initiatives. An additional $5,000 grant is provided each year to encourage collaboration with neighbouring local governments and First Nations. This has been a funding partnership of District of Lillooet and Northern Development
What does an Economic Development Officer do? An Economic Development Officer works for your local municipality, regional district, or First Nation, actively liaising with investors, local businesses and government to help spur economic activity in your community.
Jerry Sucharyna has been called the driving force in bringing new business and industry to Lillooet. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in the community, including 2010 Economic Development Officer of the Year through the Economic Development Association of Canada. Additionally, the District of Lillooet’s Guaranteed Rugged branding, tourism marketing, and web design initiatives have received a number of awards provincially, nationally and internationally.
Rather than try to be newer, bigger or better, we build on the outstanding resources and partnerships we have in this community. Our Guaranteed Rugged branding program, for example, promotes the wide range of outdoor adventure activities, rich history and authentic culture in the area with our close proximity to the lower mainland and our awesome climate. ‘Get Busy Living’ as we say.
Our website is accessible in eleven languages to reach target investors and potential residents internationally. The steady increase in web traffic and increased number of enquiries are definite indicators that we are being noticed and doing something right.
Agriculture, including vineyards, is another area of focus. Innovative businesses like Fort Berens Estate Winery and the Bitterbine Hop Company are major successes for a rural community of this size, and again focus on the assets we have. They also reinforce the natural advantages we are drawing attention to in Lillooet’s other agricultural opportunities.
We’re working on a major project to improve the community’s infrastructure around water usage. A $10 million project scheduled for completion in late 2014 is all about providing safe drinking water and will give us a strong foundation for new investment attraction initiatives.
I’m passionate about community interaction and what can be accomplished through partnerships and people from all areas working together for the common good. I’m particularly proud of the positive working relations we have with First Nations – they are integral to every aspect of life in the community, from our history and culture, to the support of local businesses, health care and the not-for-profit sector. To me that is a truly holistic approach to economic development and creating entrepreneurial opportunities.
"Our website is accessible in eleven languages to reach target investors and potential residents internationally. The steady increase in web traffic and increased number of enquiries are definite indicators that we are being noticed and doing something right."
Jerry Sucharyna, Economic Development Officer, District of LillooetNorthern Development provides economic development capacity building funding annually to boost economic development capacity in municipalities and regional districts throughout central and northern British Columbia.
View Funding Program
The BC Peace Agriculture Fund supports the Peace region’s opportunity for agricultural production and agrifoods economic activity.
The new fully digital State of the North dashboard provides economic data for Northern B.C., all with just a few clicks.
Everyone agrees: Northern BC is one of the largest regions in the province and can be difficult to navigate. This Bus the North (BTN) webpage provides you with the different transportation options that connect our communities to the people and places that matter.
