Growing the economy in the Nelson region

How long have you been working in economics in your community?

I worked previously in the broadcasting industry in the Kootenays. In 2007 a position came up at the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce as executive director. There were a lot of synergies between the two jobs and it turned into a good fit for me.

What do you enjoy about working in the area?

The fact that Nelson is such an eclectic community. It’s a great place for a life and for business opportunities. We’ve got a real entrepreneurial spirit in this region. We’ve got world class skiing, outdoor adventures unlimited, a funky vibrant downtown and we’re a safe community for raising families.

How long have you lived in your community?

I’ve lived in Nelson since 2001 and I was in the Kootenays for a couple of years in Castlegar. Previous to that I spent 20 years in the Okanagan Valley.

Can you describe what makes economic development an important issue for your town?

I think economic development is an important issue no matter what the community. In Nelson it’s extremely important. We need a really strong business community to support some of the other environmental, cultural and social issues we’re also trying to focus on. We need a strong business focus, but also to be inclusive culturally, environmentally and socially. We strive to find that balance.

What makes your community a good place for business and investment?

It’s really the entrepreneurial spirit around here. We’re a community that has close to 1,300 business licenses on an annual basis. That’s almost a third higher than other communities in Canada this size. A lot of people here have home-based businesses and work around the world. They can live in a place that provides them with the lifestyle they want and still have the opportunities found elsewhere in the world.

How would you describe the economic climate of your community?

We’ve just gone through one of the most difficult recessions that most people have ever seen. The past few years in Nelson haven’t been extremely positive, but there has been some positive growth. There are some positive trends starting to develop. With the Canadian dollar where it is now, it can only be positive for the forest industry and manufacturing sector, and it’s good for short-haul tourism from the U.S. market. It may also reduce leakage to cross border shopping.

How has your community’s economy evolved since you’ve been in this position?

Nelson is fortunate that we have a diverse economy. We try and focus on working collaboratively to build a stronger region. We’re fortunate that we are a rural community that has seen population growth in the latest census, with 25 to 49 year olds returning or relocating to the community raise families.

What are some of the current initiatives in your community?

Our economic development partnership is focused on five guiding principles, including business retention and expansion, business investment and attraction and regional collaboration. The NAEDP is a true partnership between the City, Areas E and F, Community Futures and the chamber, plus a strong community advisory committee.

What are some of the specific economic challenges that your community faces?

There has been a fluctuation in the Canadian dollar from time to time. The highs and lows of the Canadian dollar can be positive or negative, depending on the sector. The rising cost of gasoline and transportation can be an issue for people in the tourism and transportation businesses. Watching those costs go up can impact the prices of products coming into our area and cost manufacturers more money. It causes the cost of doing business to go up.

What are you most excited about, moving forward?

The most exciting thing right now is the broadband technology that Nelson and the region are starting to work on. Broadband and fibre optics in the downtown core was something we took on as a key priority for 2013 and moving forward.

The economic development partnership feels this is probably one of the best opportunities for a number of businesses. It puts us on a level playing field with a lot of major centres and will aid efforts in business attraction.