Giving Nelson businesses a boost

This organization is improving Nelson in several ways

Nelson is a dream location for business owners. — Phil Best photo

With broad ideas of nurturing partnerships, encouraging communication, acting as a catalyst for change and facilitating further development within the greater community, the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership was founded. The main goal of the economic initiative partnership since its establishment in 2005 has been to foster a business environment in Nelson and the surrounding area that is resilient, sustainable and well rounded.

To that end, the partnership is made up of the City of Nelson, Regional District areas E and F, Community Futures Central Kootenay, and the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce; these partners work collaboratively to achieve their mandate for the greater good of the community.

“As a greater community, we all know that it makes sense to support each other’s efforts, celebrate each other’s successes, and generally try to co-ordinate our efforts to achieve results that are mutually beneficial,” said Tom Thompson, executive director of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce.

For 2012, the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership expects great results, with particular emphasis on the following areas.

Business retention and expansion

Based on poll results from a 2010 business retention and expansion survey, the partnership has been implementing a series of initiatives, as requested by respondents from local economic sectors including manufacturing, technology, home-based businesses, tourism, retail storefronts and professional services. Examples of these initiatives include training-learning workshops—such as the $25 Small Business Succession Planning (through Community Futures Central Kootenay)—as well as World Host Customer Service Training and keynote business speaker opportunities.

Business investment and attraction

The Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership has been a longtime member of the Invest Kootenay initiative, striving to help attract lifestyle investors in their endeavours to buy local businesses, provide capital for existing businesses, start new businesses or seek joint-investment opportunities.

Regional co-operation

Part of Invest Kootenay’s regional focus includes the Investor-Opportunities Connect Database on investkootenay.com; this database matches otherwise disparate potential investors with local opportunities, based on their selected specific criteria.

Other examples of the work of the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership include the establishment of the Nelson Kootenay Lake Destination Marketing Organization—with its regionally focused, self-sustaining tourism marketing mandate—as well as the Shop Nelson and Area marketing campaigns, designed to encourage local consumers to “Think local first” and foster an economic community where businesses and citizens unite towards a strong local economy.

Thompson believes these efforts will combine to make 2012 one of the best years yet for the Nelson and area local economy.

“It is our belief that a vibrant local business community equates to a vibrant community,” said Thompson. “We can never lose sight of the importance of the business community in building a long-term, sustainable region.”