KELOWNA – This year the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s Economic Development Commission (COEDC) marks its 40th anniversary on May 1, 2018. With a broad range of programming the COEDC has supported the economic directives of the Regional District since May 1978.
“The COEDC’s goal is to foster a healthy, sustainable local economy by supporting local businesses and encouraging new investment to the region,” said Corie Griffiths, Director of Economic Development
Facilitation is at the core of what economic developers do on a daily basis: that is making it easier to successfully grow a business in the Central Okanagan.
This includes providing access to pertinent data and communicating resources available to the business community in the Central Okanagan. The COEDC connects with individuals and businesses throughout the year, handling more than 10,000 inquires annually.
“The COEDC is a conduit and connector for communities and enterprises throughout the Central Okanagan. As CEO of Yeti Farm Creative, I am proud of the work the COEDC does through programming support and partnerships with local business to foster economic success in all the communities of the Central Okanagan,“ said Ashley Ramsay, CEO Yeti Farm Creative.
The Central Okanagan punches above its weight and so does the COEDC. Recent accolades include the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) Marketing Canada Award and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Leadership & Innovation in Agriculture Award in 2017, and the International Economic Development Commission (IEDC) International Excellence in Economic Development and British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) Community Project Award in 2016.