Business opportunities throughout Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford and Tobacco Plains – collectively known as the Elk Valley – are abundant and diverse.

With its healthy resource-based economy and emerging tourism and technology sectors, the Elk Valley would like to attract new full-time residents to live and work in the region. A partnership with Imagine Kootenay will help achieve this goal.

Imagine Kootenay is a workforce and investment attraction partnership that promotes the Kootenay region online at ImagineKootenay.com. Each partner community, like Elk Valley, has its own section on the webpage where it can promote the advantages of living and working there, alongside current job postings and investment opportunities.

The communities of Fernie and Sparwood were previously featured as individual communities on Imagine Kootenay, but they will now come under the shared banner of Elk Valley.

“This is the first step in changing how we market ourselves outside the community,” explained Patty Vadnais, coordinator of the Elk Valley Economic Initiative. “We’ll be rolling out new investment attraction resources throughout the next year, so we can bring more hard-working, full-time residents and businesses to the Elk Valley.”

Imagine Kootenay partners includes five sub-regions – Elk Valley, Columbia Valley, Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake, Boundary Country and Trail, Rossland and Area – along with the communities of Kimberley, Golden, Revelstoke, Nakusp, Nelson and Castlegar.

A popular feature of the website is the investment opportunity listings, which connect entrepreneurs who want grow or exit their business with potential buyers or investors. There are currently 20 businesses in the Elk Valley listed for sale.

“These listings can be seen by prospective investors around the world,” said Imagine Kootenay Program Manager Jamie Mayes. “Additionally, when people come to the website, they can find out about key employers, local amenities and lifestyle benefits of living in the region. We’re a one-stop resource for people thinking about relocating here.”

To learn more about the Elk Valley or to post a free investment opportunity listing, visit ImagineKootenay.com.

Lead image: The Elk Valley and Hosmer Mountain, Fernie. (Photo Credit: Kari Medig)

Elk Valley Economic Initiative

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