COURTENAY – Campbell River will soon be developing a technology attraction strategy, thanks to funding from the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET).
“Building on the City’s investment in CRAdvantage, our open-access broadband network, this new project will help us maximize the benefits of an asset built to revitalize the economy and attract new businesses,” said Mayor Andy Adams.
“We’ll use this opportunity to build the platform we need to attract a new generation of digital entrepreneurs – and remind them that they can work where they want to live.”
ICET will provide up to $10,000 in matching funding to develop a comprehensive tech attraction strategy. The strategy will assess the community’s assets and current role in the tech sector and identify the tools and partnerships required to attract and develop tech related business opportunities. The project will also engage local and regional stakeholders involved in tech to assess opportunities for collaborative regional approaches.
“Campbell River has taken a proactive approach to renewing their business climate by investing in economic infrastructure, and their decision to create a municipally-owned broadband network is evidence of that forward-thinking approach,” said Phil Kent, ICET Chair.
“Tech industry jobs are high-value and desirable for communities, and combining the needed infrastructure with the lifestyle and affordability of the Campbell River area adds to the opportunity to kick-start a new industrial cluster in the ICET region.”
The project is being funded through a new stream in the Island Coastal Economic Trust’s Economic Development Readiness (EDRP) program, designed to support the development of the technology sector in the region.
“We want to provide a platform for the recruitment and cultivation of technology based businesses in Campbell River for the long term,” said Rose Klukas, EDO with the City of Campbell River.
“We’ll be exploring the potential for creating ‘regional innovation clusters’, and identifying the opportunities for regional marketing of the assets and advantages of Campbell River as a future tech hub.”
Project work will begin in fall of 2017 with completion expected by year end.
