Beginning in April, Contractor-Supplier boot camps and Request for Proposal (RFP) seminars will take place throughout various regions in B.C. in an effort to help local businesses better understand industry procurement processes and bid on contracts that will help them grow and diversify their companies. So far, there are a number of Contractor-Supplier boot camps and RFP seminars scheduled to occur in Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Prince George and Kelowna throughout the year. As well, two more Contractor-Supplier boot camps and RFP seminars will be held at the International LNG in B.C. Conference held in Vancouver May 21 to 23. The Contractor-Supplier boot camps will focus on procurement opportunities and processes associated with major LNG projects. The RFP seminars will also focus on LNG opportunities, and provide local business owners with a step-by-step guide to industry RFP processes that will help them bid on major contracts.
In 2013, Northern Development’s Contractor-Supplier boot camps were immensely helpful for local businesses throughout central and northern B.C. that want to position themselves to take advantage of the major industrial projects coming their way. Last year, Contractor-Supplier boot camps were held in Quesnel, Houston, Fort Nelson, Mackenzie, Lillooet, Williams Lake and Fort St. John. The boot camps proved to be tremendously successful, with several communities specifically requesting additional seminars in 2014.
The recent collaborative partnership between the Province and Northern Development will prepare local industrial businesses to bid on contracts associated with major projects throughout the region, which will help generate more revenue and job creation for British Columbia-based businesses. The boot camps and RFP seminars are free to attend and open to all local businesses. The seminars are each approximately three hours in length, and will be launched in northwest B.C. this spring before moving on to other regions.
More information regarding seminar dates and locations will be released in the coming weeks.
Quotes:
“Major LNG, mining and other industrial projects present an unparalleled opportunity for our northern-B.C. based businesses to grow, diversify and create new jobs, and we believe it’s important to work with them to get our region prepared for the coming investment boom,” said The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and responsible for Labour: “The government is working hard to ensure the entire B.C. business community can participate fully in the opportunity LNG offers. We anticipate LNG will create up to $1 trillion in economic activity and as many as 100,000 jobs in B.C. over the next 30 years. The LNG-Buy BC Program will provide a platform for major investors in a wide range of industries to tap into everything B.C.’s business community has to offer.”
Janine North, CEO, Northern Development Initiative Trust. “We’re proud to partner with the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training to deliver Contractor-Supplier Boot Camps and Request for Proposal workshops to communities throughout the region this year. These workshops will generate value for entrepreneurs throughout B.C. and help the Trust deliver on its mandate to build a stronger north.”
Quick Facts
• More than 10 LNG export terminals have been proposed for development in B.C.
• The growth of the LNG industry in B.C. could add as much as $1 trillion in cumulative gross domestic product over 30 years
• The Province estimates that industry has already spent up to $1 billion to prepare for the construction of LNG infrastructure
• A further $7-plus billion has been invested to acquire upstream natural gas assets and execute strategic corporate acquisitions, including joint ventures that will anchor the development of pipelines and plants in B.C.
• The development of B.C.’s LNG industry will create thousands of new jobs and generate new opportunities for local businesses to grow and diversify
For more information please contact:
Joel McKay
Director, Communications
Northern Development Initiative Trust
250 561 2525
joel@northerndevelopment.bc.ca
Renata King
Director, Business Development
Northern Development Initiative Trust
250 561-2525
renata@northerndevelopment.bc.ca
Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250-387-2799
