Economic Development

Despite COVID delays, rising costs Kelowna airport’s $108M expansion back on track
As Kelowna International Airport surpasses the two million passenger per year mark, its $108 million…

New PacifiCan office in Kelowna comes with $6.3M for Southern Interior businesses
A new federal government economic development initiative will open an office in the Innovation Centre…

Billions of dollars in construction projects proposed for the Thompson-Okanagan
From highway bridges and hydroelectric projects to massive housing developments, there are 39 major projects…

Why Kelowna’s economy keeps firing, even during a pandemic
Max Carbone not only helps newcomers get settled into Kelowna but he’s also a perfect…

A diversified economy sheltered Kelowna from the COVID-19 storm
Kelowna’s unemployment rate fell to 4.7 per cent in November, giving it the second lowest…

Penticton’s economic development efforts geared to keep the good times rolling
PENTICTON – The South Okanagan economic juggernaut continues to roll along and Penticton is finding…

Regional board continues to wrestle with economic development idea
PENTICTON - A question of transparency in how the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen hands out grants for economic development appears to have inspired directors to consider adding more money on it. It started with a simple concept at a committee meeting in February. Instead of giving the Okanagan Film Commission a grant-in-aid every year (last...
Regional district board hopes to create fertile economic environment
PENTICTON - The regional district continues to be interested in economic growth, but for the time being will not be implementing a full regional economic development service. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board of directors discussion regarding the establishment of a regional economic development service focused on the need for public assent for such...

Regional directors ponder prospect of establishing an economic development service
PENTICTON - A perennial request for grant money has one regional director advocating a policy change. West Bench director Michael Brydon introduced a director’s motion to reactivate a regional economic development service at the regional district board meeting last week. The motion came about following a meeting in which Okanagan Film Commission Commissioner Jon Summerland...
The hunt is on for a new anchor at Village Green Mall
VERNON - Target isn’t the only vacancy in Vernon’s Village Green Centre. If you walk around the shopping mall, you’ll see four vacant shop spaces. When Target closes, it will be five. The City of Vernon’s economic development manager Kevin Poole has his eye on it, but says this is a time of year when...
Channel Bridge project moves a step closer to reality
PENTICTON - Another step forward for the Channel Crossing bridge as the Penticton Indian Band accepts bids on the multi-million dollar project. Companies will give their best estimates of how much it will cost to build the five-lane bridge, traffic signals and highway improvements. Engineers have created detailed designs and specification books for bidding companies...

Venture Kamloops website top of the pack
KAMLOOPS - Venture Kamloops is not only top in the province when it comes to marketing, a recent award shows the economic development group is also top in the country. As the economic development arm for the city Venture Kamloops was recognized as a leader in the web-based marketing and website category with the Marketing...

Penticton lifestyle will be the cure for job retention
PENTICTON - It’s going to take a creative touch for businesses to acquire the skilled trade workers and permanent training resources needed to satisfy the demands of the growing industrial sector in Penticton. Job retention isn’t just about economic development opportunities, says economic development director, Colleen Pennington—it’s also about investing in the arts community, the...

WestJet encourages winter season in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - The arrival of WestJet in Penticton is encouraging the City, tourism and other organizations throughout the South Okanagan to focus on what the region as to offer in the winter season. AirCanada will no longer be the sole airline flying out of Penticton once WestJet joins the ranks at the end of October,...

Cycling: the Penticton tourism industry’s next target
PENTICTON - Cycling is a popular hobby and sport in the South Okanagan but it could soon be a major tourism driver. City representatives introduced the idea of Penticton as a province-wide cycling destination to provincial ministers at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler last week. But Tourism Penticton, an entity of the city, already...