Economic Development Report by David Arsenault
Penticton Economic Development Services continues to execute its strategic plan and have a number of activities planned for development in this fiscal year. On top of these initiatives we continue to field requests for information on potential business opportunities in our community and develop an external marketing strategy. Locally, there have been a number of pieces on economic development in our community through Shaw Cable, the Penticton Herald and other media outlets.
As an organization, we will soon be launching our new website and branding initiative. The creative concept campaign behind the website and branding initiative draws upon attracting new business to Penticton to take advantage of our quality of life. For most of us, we know what living in Penticton is all about but for the visitor to our community living here is only a dream. The new campaign plays upon that dream and focuses on that potential. ImaginePenticton.ca is a brand that allows you to fulfill that dream "Imagine your business in Penticton."
In addition, we are working with the City of Penticton to develop an economic investment incentive strategy and will soon be presenting Mayor and Council with this strategy that is designed to make our community more competitive in the global economy. A more in-depth report will appear in the next Voice newsletter.
Initiatives that are underway in our organization:
· Working with the Okanagan Research and Innovation Council (ORIC) and the Okanagan Science and Technology Council, we will be hosting a high tech round table for the establishment of a high tech incubator in Penticton. The date of this round table event is October 7, 2009 at the Penticton Chamber Office beginning at 4:00 -6:00 pm.
· Working with Okanagan College, the local school districts, CFDC and BDC we will be launching a Dragons Den competition at local high schools in January.
· Working with all the valley EDO's and the valley wide CFDC the development of "OurOkanagan," a local website that will benefit local business to:
o improve the coordination of local suppliers and purchasers
o provide easy access to information for inbound investors and potential new businesses to the Valley
o assist with regional competitiveness
o facilitate all three areas of the Okanagan Valley Region to work collaboratively together
o provide economic benefits to Okanagan Valley businesses through increased awareness and access to value-added business services
- Establish a working committee to develop our regional airport
- Working with Leadership and Management BC, CFDC and the Chamber of Commerce host an Economic Summit - titled "Leadership Tactics in Challenging Times" that will take place in Penticton November 4, 2009.
Stay tuned!
