The Board of Directors of Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK) recently approved $15,000 of program funding to support the activities of the Elk Valley Economic Initiative.

The Elk Valley Economic Initiative (formerly known as the Elk Valley Economic Development Task Force) was established in 2011 and is comprised of the chief administrative officers of the City of Fernie, District of Sparwood and District of Elkford, representatives from each municipality’s Chamber of Commerce, Teck Resources, a representative from Regional District of East Kootenay Electoral Area A, the Tobacco Plains Indian Band and Sparwood’s Business Development Liaison.

The group was established with the following goals:

1. Champion, support and articulate opportunities for projects and initiatives that contribute to regional economic development in the Elk Valley;

2. Create a network and increase communications among individuals and organizations involved in economic development in the Elk Valley;

3. Link to and avoid duplication with the activities of other regional economic development initiatives.

Since its formation the group has fostered a close working relationship between the three municipalities with respect to economic development and commissioned an Elk Valley Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis and Growth Sector Identification report which has been made available to all municipalities.

Commenting on the funding, Jude Smith, Chair of the group said, “We are encouraged to have received this funding from Community Futures as it allows us to move towards a more active role in regional economic development. We have a number of projects underway which focus on benefits to all of the communities in the Elk Valley. We have a funding application in with the Columbia Basin Trust funded Community Directed Funds initiative and this initial vote of support from Community Futures will help to leverage funds from this other funding source. We are in the process of organising a high profile business event for 2015 which will showcase all that the Elk Valley has to offer to investors and promote the many reasons that it is a location with an abundance of opportunity for businesses.”

Sean Campbell, CFEK General Manager said, “This collaboration between the communities in the Elk Valley is going to be a catalyst for investment and the growth of small businesses in the area. CFEK strives to be a strategic partner with those intent on building stronger communities through economic development and the EVEI is an exceptional model of business and local government working together towards that goal. We are confident that our investment will help the EVEI to emphasize the regional economy, creating opportunities for new and existing businesses throughout the Elk Valley.”

Diana Brooks, Regional Economic Development Manager | Kootenay Region for the Province of B.C. said, “I have had an involvement with this group since it was established and it is showing great innovation and drive for making positive things happen in the region. It is very positive to see all the municipalities involved working in true partnership and we expect that the group will gain more momentum as other funders see the value that they can bring to the region.”

For more information on the Elk Valley Economic Initiative contact the Chairman, Jude Smith at the District of Sparwood.

Pictured above: L to R (Karen Mills (Elkford Chamber of Commerce), Norma MacDougall (Sparwood Chamber of Commerce), Corien Sieders (Fernie Chamber of Commerce), Jude Smith (District of Sparwood), Sean Campbell (Community Futures), Shawna Elliot (Community Futures).

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