Every year, the City of Terrace 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 Terrace Economic Development Authority, Northern Development, and City of Terrace
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.
For talented business graduates from northern educational institutions interested in careers in local government and rural economic development, Northern Development’s Economic Development Intern program provides immersed training and experience. At the same time, the communities where our interns work, gain a resource for recruiting qualified economic development professionals.
I was actually completing my Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Northern British Columbia when I heard an inspiring talk by Northern Development CEO, Janine North. She spoke about Northern Development’s Economic Development Intern program and I decided to apply. During the year I was an intern, I gained incredible experience and insight to the field, working in a number of northern communities. After that I knew this was the work I wanted to do.
Strong transportation links to regional, provincial and global markets make Terrace a strategic hub in the northwest and we actively market investment opportunities related to import/exporting. As a resource-based region we also work to develop economy building initiatives related to forestry, mining and energy.
In March of this year we held a First Nations Joint Venture Partner Workshop which brought together numerous stakeholders interested in being involved in projects with First Nations. Coinciding with the event was the creation of our First Nations Joint Venture Partnership Toolkit; it continues to be a well-used resource for learning how to connect with First Nations and progress to the deal-making stage.
When we first met with local businesses to determine how the Authority could best flow funding dollars into the community, a major outcome was the new www.investnorthwestbc.ca website that was launched in the Fall of 2011. This is a unique project based on the collaboration of communities throughout the northwest. It provides a wide range of information from contacts in local industry, bidding information, descriptions of projects underway, environmental reports and project timelines.
It’s an extremely fast-paced field; the terrain is always changing and you have to be accountable for everything you do. At the same time, economic development officers throughout the region support each other by sharing best practices and leveraging resources. And of course, it’s great to be working to improve the business climate and quality of life in the area where I grew up.
"When we first met with local businesses to determine how the Authority could best flow funding dollars into the community, a major outcome was the new www.investnorthwestbc.ca website that was launched in the Fall of 2011. This is a unique project based on the collaboration of communities throughout the northwest. It provides a wide range of information from contacts in local industry, bidding information, descriptions of projects underway, environmental reports and project timelines."
Evan van Dyk, Economic Development Officer, Terrace Economic Development Authority"Economic development is an extremely fast-paced field; the terrain is always changing and you have to be accountable for everything you do. At the same time, economic development officers throughout the region support each other by sharing best practices and leveraging resources. And of course, it’s great to be working to improve the business climate and quality of life in the area where I grew up."
Evan van Dyk, Economic Development Officer, Terrace Economic Development AuthorityNorthern Development provides economic development capacity building funding annually to boost economic development capacity in municipalities and regional districts throughout central and northern British Columbia.
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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.
