What’s news in the North this month?
Mountain biking in the Cariboo, connecting through technology and the revival of the District of Kitimat are some of our top stories from communities across central and northern British Columbia in the latest edition of Building a Stronger North.
A new industry focused on mountain biking and the outdoors is generating millions of dollars in the Cariboo. In 2009, the mountain biking industry brought $1.9 million to the area and has since grown by an impressive 11.5%.
Northern communities are also illustrating how technology tools can increase connections and investments in our regions.
From Haida Gwaii comes HGB2B, a web tool that connects small local businesses to major contractors. With the upcoming development of the Masset Airport and Queen Charlotte Hospital on Haida Gwaii, this will serve as an important tool to match the services and needs of these groups.
In other technology news, the four regional investment portals for B.C.’s Northwest, North Central, Northeast and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Coast are now complete and online. These portals provide up-to-date information about the latest investment opportunities and keep a pulse on the bustling activity underway in central and northern British Columbia.
At the recent B.C. Natural Resources Forum, Northern Development Initiative Trust and its northwest B.C. community partners were given the “Technology Provider of the Year” award for the development of the Invest Northwest BC investment portal.
Also in this month’s edition is a short video about Kitimat and the billions of dollars in wealth that it’s attracting. Check out the video on our YouTube page!
For more information on these stories and more, read this month’s edition of Building a Stronger North today!
About Northern Development
Northern Development Initiative Trust is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation in central and northern British Columbia.
- To date, $111 million in funding has been committed to 1,068 projects in communities throughout central and northern British Columbia.
- 5,154 jobs have been created.
- 1,890 partnerships with 681 organizations have attracted over $1 billion in new investment to the region.
- 73% of investments are in small communities with populations less than 5,000.
- Community grant writers have been approved for $68.6 million in funding since 2010.
For information on Northern Development and the community economic development projects being led in communities throughout central and northern British Columbia, visit: http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca.
