Community Economic Development Projects
Community economic development is a unique way to help communities take a leadership role in defining their future and achieving
sustained development. Keeping pace with the changing world requires that we constantly re-examine the social, cultural, and economic
structures that make up our way of life. Given the enormous challenges facing us today, it is critical that we work together in
the process of building strong and vital communities.
Community Futures North Okanagan strives to identify projects that will benefit the community and builds community partnerships to
implement different initiatives.
Community economic development reports available include:
Closing the Skills Gap - 2008
The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce ‘Closing the Skills Gap 2008 – The Economic Imperative of Addressing the Skills and
Labour Shortage in British Columbia’ report calls on government to take a more proactive approach to the challenge faced
by business in finding and retaining skilled workers across British Columbia. The report, which outlines 32 recommendations
directed at addressing the government infrastructure, education, skills development and immigration. The report also
identifies nine immediate priority actions as well as continuing to call for action from the business community.
The report is available for download: Closing the Skills Gap 2008 - Executive Summary (printable .pdf ~ 259 Kb)
Bridging The Generation Divide - Best Practices
This report focuses on the identification, development, and implementation of “strategies” that encourage employers of youth,
participants in the education system, and youth themselves to develop effective workplace practices and realistic expectations
in light of the challenges of today’s labour force and multi-generational workplaces.
The report is available for download: Bridging the Generation Divide - Best Practices (printable .pdf ~ 244 Kb)
Impact of Meat Inspection Study
This report was prepared for the North Okanagan Food Action Coalition with funding support from the North Okanagan Regional District
and Community Futures. The results are based on questionnaires and interviews with producers and processors in the region. The
outcome of the Meat Inspection Regulation in this region has been to reduce custom slaughter capacity and make the Regional
District of the North Okanagan an underserved area both for poultry and red meat custom slaughter.
Attainable Housing Strategy
This Strategy has been prepared by Neilson-Welch Consulting Inc (NWCI) under the direction of the City of Vernon Affordable
Housing Committee. The Strategy is presented for discussion with, and for the sole use of, the City of Vernon.
North Okanagan Regional Industrial Growth Strategy
In June 2005, community leaders, economic development managers, First Nation representatives, and owners/CEOs of leading
manufacturing firms met with the Minister of Industry Canada to discuss the critical factors affecting the manufacturing sector
in the Regional District of the North Okanagan (RDNO). At this meeting all participants agreed that the three most pressing issues
for industry in the North Okanagan were:
- Identification of industrial land for retention, expansion and future attraction of
- light manufacturing businesses and high technology businesses and the required
- infrastructure in terms of water and sewer to industrial land;
- Access to rail transport with both loading and off loading capabilities – intermodel
- Skill training requirements for the manufacturing sector.
As a follow-up to the Minister’s meeting, economic development and community leaders discussed the need for a long term Regional
Industrial Growth Strategy. The project has been lead by Community Futures North Okanagan, in partnership with the Greater
Vernon Economic Development Services, with funding support being provided by Western Economic Diversification.
The report is available for download:
Regional Industrial Growth Strategy - June 2006 (printable .pdf ~ 1 Mb)
CF supports the following projects:
SharED Program
SharED is a program in the community which offers executive directors and managers the opportunity to share expertise, experiences,
best practices, and problem solving strategies and exchange 'just-in-time' information and training. SharED provides executive
directors/general managers with the opportunity to access leadership, management ideas, and advice from both their colleagues and
from guest speakers.
In many cases, not-for-profit organizations are operating their agencies just like small businesses. They have concerns about
human resources, accounting/financial cash flows, strategic planning, research, marketing/communications, etc. – the very same
issues faced by businesses.
Members of SharED have the opportunity is shared strategies on all sorts of operational issues, to access to skill
enhancement/training for executive directors/general managers, the discover best practices between organizations, to
access to professional business advice, to create partnerships and linkages, and to develop networking opportunities.
This is a practical method for executive directors/general managers to receive training, access professional advice, to
develop networking skills, and to learn new strategies. The meetings will rotate between a facilitated roundtable discussion
on issues the participants initiate, and guest speakers on issues identified by the membership.
