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Welcome to the Economic Development eNewsletter
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You are receiving this email as you previously subscribed to the On the Move eNewsletter through the Initiatives Prince George website.
This subscription to the On the Move eNewsletter has moved to our new Economic Development eNewsletter.
You will once again receive the latest information about economic activity in Prince George and the surrounding region, as well as events, services and opportunities that are of value to local and regional businesses. Our Economic Updates will be distributed monthly and our eNewsletter will be distributed on a quarterly basis in January, April, July and October.
No further action is needed. Remember, you can unsubscribe at any time using the "SafeUnsubscribe" link located at the bottom of this email.
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We are available to answer all of your investment related questions, to assist you with acting on business growth opportunities and overcoming challenges, and to provide workforce attraction and retention tools and services.
Contact us today.
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2016 was a banner year for development in Prince George. Forget the highlights?
Watch this video
for a refresher.
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Economic highlights for January to May 2017
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- The unemployment rate declined steeply from 8.1% to 5.9%
- The employment rate increased from 64.7% to 66.3%
- 212 new business licenses issued
- 166 building permits granted with a total value of $34,386,018.88
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Introducing our
NEW economic development dashboard
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Find up-to-date data
on the Prince George economy that will help with your final investment decision.
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Invest in Prince George - Opportunity Profiles
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The Economic Development Division has identified
6 investment opportunities
where existing and potential companies will have a competitive advantage by setting up in the city.
The opportunities are:
- Forestry Innovation and Technologies
- Engineered Wood Products
- Data Centres
- Biofuels
- Wood Pellets
- Engineering, Construction and Project Support
Economic Development staff are actively pursuing business in these industries and are encouraging companies to come forward and share their advice and best practices by contacting Keenan Hopson, Economic Development Officer at
[email protected]
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New website - New Business Directory
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The new Business Directory launched in May of 2017! This free, descriptive, and searchable business directory is available to all businesses with a City of Prince George business license.
Use this great marketing tool to profile your business, social media pages, website, products and services. With over 1,300 businesses and growing, the Business Directory is an excellent way to search for local businesses and get valuable information about the business community.
Have a business license but don't have access to the directory yet? Call Joanna Johnston, Business Development Officer at 250-561-7633 to get connected. |
E. Roko Distributors Ltd. - A new wholesaler!
The former Loomis property at 2221 Quinn Street has new owners and they're open for business.
E. Roko Distributors, with other locations in Kelowna, Vancouver, Calgary and Washington State, decided Prince George was the ideal geographical position for their next wholesale business venture serving the cabinet and millwork industry. Marcel, the general manager at E. Roko, says Prince George is the perfect central location to serve his customers and communities. With a wholesale warehouse in Prince George, they are very optimistic about expansion opportunities in northern BC; they're now closer to their customers and the large warehouse will improve shipping times while helping the cabinetry and millwork industry thrive.
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Homework (2 Fine Design Ltd.) - Rising up from loss
Louise & Anthony have opened their new
Homework location in downtown Prince George and it's a show stopper. Two years after the tragic loss of their former building, this beloved business is back and more beautiful than ever. With 200-300 different products lines, they're passionate about Prince George and the total shopping experience and atmosphere they have created. It's even a tourist attraction as local residents bring their guests to the store to show off what's in Prince George.
This substantial investment in downtown Prince George is part of the evolution of new business investment in the core of the city. They made it through a very difficult time, so let's show them some Prince George heart! And don't forget about their
Pine Centre Mall
location as it's is still open for business.
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Copper Falls Custom Homes Ltd. - A custom combination
Taking custom residential construction to the next level, Jeff and Brent brought together their two companies, Sequoia Signature Homes and Scheck Construction to form Copper Falls Custom Homes. Their new storefront at 1990 Ogilvie St. S. showcases their combined thirty-five years of experience and projects and offers clients a high-end full interior design-residential package and construction services. It'll be exciting to see what this dynamic duo creates in the Prince George housing market.
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Building the future with Development Services
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The Economic Development Division co-hosted a public meeting with Development Services on June 8th, 2017 to discuss action taken on suggestions for improvements within Development Services made during the
2016 Business Outreach Survey.
There have been significant increases in efficiency for many areas including the following:
- SFD building permits
- New application forms online
- Mobile inspections for permits
- The Marshall & Swift Estimator
A key take away from the meeting from Deanna Wasnik,
Development Services Manager was for
developers, builders and engineers to "engage us early on to learn what steps are involved in a project; whether it be building, zoning, or subdivision, we are available to discuss your development vision". The department offers pre-application meetings for all types of applications, providing the opportunity to share project details, learn processes, and identify areas that may require additional focus.
Look forward to more changes as Development Services continues to work towards LEAN Process for C,I, and I applications, registered professional reliance, review and updates to bylaws, and electronic inspections and applications.
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Employee recruitment tools - Move Up Prince George
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If you're an employer who needs to recruit people from outside of Prince George, check out the workforce attraction tools we offer through the
Move Up Prince George website
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You can
post a job for free
to the website's Career Search page and then download a Move Up Prince George
digital web button
to add to your online career search page. This button should be linked back to the Move Up Prince George website so that people interested in your job posting can learn if they'd like to live in Prince George.
For more information about these tools and other recruitment and retention services offered by the Economic Development Division, contact Christina Doll, Workforce Development Officer at
[email protected] or 250-561-7633.
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And the winner is...PRINCE GEORGE!
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The City of Prince George's Foodie Fridays program was honoured at the BC Economic Development Awards
on June 13, 2017 in the category of Best Community Project - Greater than 20,000 Population.
Foodie Fridays is a weekly lunch event held on the front lawn of City Hall around Veterans Plaza, which offers the public access to local food truck vendors and restauranteurs all in one place.
Come down to Veterans Plaza every Friday until August 25th and be part of Foodie Fridays.
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Stay up-to-date via social media - Invest City of PG
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