Taking care of Nelson’s business

The Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce is the squeaky wheel that gets attention from local and provincial governments

by Marie Milner — June 01, 2016

The Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce is now housed in the beautifully refurbished CP Rail station. — Trina Walsh photo

There will always be issues and initiatives that are specific to individual communities rather than their region, but when there’s need for support from the provincial or federal government or other potential funders, the voice of the region is more powerful than that of an individual community.

“If we can show that we’re united in our goals and in the way we’ll apply the support we’re looking for, we’re more likely to get that support,” said Tom Thomson, executive director of the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce (NDCC). “We try to achieve a unified voice and serve the best interests of everyone.”

The NDCC is part of an economic development partnership that began in 2006. The Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP) also includes the City of Nelson, Community Futures of Central Kootenay and Electoral Areas E and F.

“Our economic development partnership works with all economic sectors,” said Thomson, “to provide insight and work towards solutions where challenges or growth opportunities have been identified. Each member has specific roles and responsibilities, and we roll out business- and community-strengthening programs through the partnership. We meet monthly with our co-ordinating committee and quarterly with our advisory committee.”

Some of the key issues in the 2015-2017 Strategic Plan included strengthening the digital economy, business retention and expansion, and turning a great downtown into an outstanding downtown. The NAEDP set a strategic goal in 2015 to build on the new asset of broadband fibre, following the Intelligent Community model to create a strong system for driving innovation and supporting technology.

Broadband is an increasingly important component of business infrastructure, and promotion of broadband in Nelson includes training to identify the best options for individual businesses. Though not all businesses will benefit in the same ways, broadband makes the Central Kootenay region a real option for entrepreneurs who struggle with high costs in large urban centres. The cost of living and doing business in the Kootenays is relatively low, and Nelson has a couple of co-work spaces available to further facilitate an influx of entrepreneurs.

“We went through a program called Strategic Doing earlier this year,” Thomson said. “Out of that, we formed a ‘doing’ plan for moving our projects forward. So far we have seen some really good traction on several fronts.”

The chamber and NAEDP members are partnering with the City of Nelson on a downtown urban design plan that will get underway this summer.

The NAEDP expects to follow up last year’s Business Retention & Expansion Survey through Business Walks. Thomson believes that face-to-face conversations and sector consultations with business owners and managers are good ways to take the pulse of the business community and to hear directly about its news and its issues. The first Business Walk will likely take place in the fall of 2016.

Thomson said that working with municipal administrations, chambers of commerce, local tourism agencies and economic development organizations, as well as potential funders and supporters, keeps everyone focused on regional benefits.