Community investment
What Canada’s Rural Development Action Plan Consultation Means for Rural British Columbia
The federal government’s recent summary of themes from the Rural Development Action Plan consultation outlines priorities that align closely with many of the challenges and opportunities facing rural British Columbia. Housing, broadband, local economies, health and childcare, climate resilience, Indigenous-led development, and streamlined, place-based funding emerged as top themes, and each presents actionable opportunities for…
Read MoreUnlocking Rural Resilience: How Collective Ownership is Shaping Our Energy Future
At the BC Rural Centre, we are always looking for innovative ways to help our communities thrive in a changing climate. Recently, we had the privilege of being invited to participate in a pivotal research project led by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). This collaboration focused on a critical question for rural B.C.:…
Read MoreThe SEED Model for Sustainable Economic Development in Small Rural Towns via Outdoor Recreation
Abstract Rural small towns continue to face serious challenges, including population decline, high poverty levels, and insufficient infrastructure, among others. The sustainable ecosystem economic development (SEED) model provides a framework for remote rural communities to work collaboratively with government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits facilitated by project champions to develop and maintain healthy, sustainable economies. While…
Read MoreStudy on Supply Chain and Community Benefits of the Forest Sector
A new economic study focusing on local communities across BC was released today by the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI). This study highlights the vital role of British Columbia’s forestry industry, as it touches so many communities across the province and employs British Columbians in a wide array of jobs. In 2022, the forestry…
Read MoreThe Rise Of Innovation Districts
A New Geography of Innovation in America Originally posted on Brookings.edu Written by Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner As the United States slowly emerges from the Great Recession, a remarkable shift is occurring in the spatial geography of innovation. For the past 50 years, the landscape of innovation has been dominated by places like Silicon…
Read MoreFramework for Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy
A Tool for Small Cities and Towns Many small and mid-sized cities around the United States are struggling because their economies were built largely on a single economic sector that has changed significantly. For example, jobs might once have been heavily concentrated in industries like logging, mining, or manufacturing, but technology and market forces have…
Read MoreNew and Improved Public Spaces and Tourism Experiences
The Government of Canada is making investments across British Columbia to refresh community spaces, attract new visitors, and stimulate local economies Safe and inclusive public spaces and dynamic tourism attractions are key to vibrant communities. They bring together people of all ages and abilities, in turn supporting businesses and boosting economic vitality. Throughout the East…
Read MoreBuilding Capital & Capacity In Our Communities
For over a decade, the BC Rural Centre has researched and advocated for the establishment of community investment fund programs in British Columbia, inspired by successful models in Nova Scotia, Alberta, and the USA. In 2015, the Centre partnered with Kootenay Employment Services to create the Creston & District Community Investment Cooperative, the first of…
Read MoreCommunity Investment Guide Webinar, March 10
The longer a dollar can circulate within a community, the greater its economic and social impacts. Few know this as well as Eden Yesh, Chair of the BC Community Impact Investment Coalition and Manager of Community & Economic Development at Kootenay Employment Services. On Tuesday, March 10, at 1 PM Pacific, Eden will release…
Read MoreInvestment Co-op Lets You Bank on Your Community
Investment co-ops are coming to the Kootenays, as reported in this recent article by Claire Paradis, appearing in the December 13, 2018 edition of the Valley Voice. If you’re putting your money into GICs, term deposits and other investments, you probably have little or no idea where your investment funds are going. Even though…
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