Locally owned, independent businesses are about to get some profile throughout central and northern B.C. Northern Development’s board of directors has voted unanimously to make the Small Town Love buy local initiative a permanent program for communities throughout the region. Small Town Love is a highly successful buy-local initiative originally launched in Quesnel to celebrate central and northern B.C.’s unique independent businesses. Last year, the Trust partnered with Small Town Love founder Amy Quarry to launch a pilot program that would replicate the Quesnel program’s success in another six northern communities (Logan Lake, 100 Mile House, Valemount, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Burns Lake). The pilot program was a huge success, with more than 200 locally owned, independent businesses featured in six community-branded web portals, and dozens more businesses wait-listed to join the Small Town Love movement. The program was designed to promote and celebrate businesses in communities throughout the region. The board’s decision to approve funding for the program for another two years means that there are more than a dozen communities who have expressed interest in joining the Small Town Love movement in 2014 and 2015.
The 2014 communities include :
• Village of McBride
• Village of Telkwa
• Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
• Town of Smithers
• Village of Fraser Lake
• Village of Granisle
• Village of Ashcroft
• District of Houston
• Village of Lytton
The Trust will work with these and other communities throughout the region in the weeks and months ahead to schedule and launch the program this year. Locally owned, independent businesses in each of the communities or regions listed above are encouraged to contact their local municipal office or economic development officer to find out how to participate.
In the months ahead, Northern Development will provide further updates regarding participation and launch dates for each campaign.
Quotes :
“Small Town Love is all about celebrating independent businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit in central and northern B.C.,” said Northern Development Initiative Trust CEO Janine North. “The pilot program was a huge success in 2013, and we look forward to continuing to partner with communities and entrepreneurs to get the word out about the great locally owned businesses throughout our region.”
“Small Town Love is firmly rooted in collaboration, community building and inspiring creativity and we share these same values with both Northern Development and the business owners we are meeting through the Small Town Love project. I am very grateful for the partnership with Northern Development that allows us to take Small Town Love to so many more people than we would be able to do on our own,” said Small Town Love founder Amy Quarry.
Quick facts :
• Small Town Love was launched as a pilot program designed to promote small business in communities throughout the region
• The program is a partnership between Northern Development and entrepreneur Amy Quarry, who created and launched the original “Small Town Love” buy-local initiative in the City of Quesnel
• The pilot program launched in 2013 included six communities: Logan Lake, 100 Mile House, Valemount, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Burns Lake
• More than 200 locally owned, independent businesses in six communities signed up to be a part of the pilot program
• Locally owned, independent businesses interested in participating in the program in 2014 should contact their municipal office or economic development officer in one of the communities listed above
• 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, $121 million in funding has been committed to 1,444 projects in communities throughout central and northern British Columbia.
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
