(North Cowichan, BC) – North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas has established a new Economic Development Committee that is set to begin meeting on June 22, with a mandate to facilitate socially and environmentally responsible community economic development within the municipality. The committee will work closely with Economic Development Cowichan, an office of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, to ensure municipal and regional initiatives are coordinated.
"This is the first time North Cowichan has had an economic development committee in over a decade, and shows we are ready to use what tools we have as a municipality to strengthen our already thriving local economy,” said Mayor Rob Douglas. “We are excited to start working with local businesses, industry, unions, non-profits, co-ops, farmers, and First Nations to identify economic development opportunities in the municipality. Over the coming months we will draw upon input received from these partners, as well as other priorities identified at the municipality, to build our own economic development action plan; one that will encourage more high-quality and high-paying jobs, support a diverse range of sustainable businesses, provide a solid tax base, and benefit all residents.”
The Economic Development Committee will be guided by North Cowichan’s Official Community Plan, adopted in August 2022, which includes a wide range of policies for strengthening the local economy, with an emphasis on taking a regenerative approach that results in sustainable economic development and protection of the environment for future generations.
Earlier this year, North Cowichan was successful in obtaining provincial grant funding through Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) of the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation to support exploring industrial land servicing needs as well as furthering other economic development initiatives.
The Economic Development Committee members are Mayor Rob Douglas and Councillors Bruce Findlay and Chris Istace.
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Media Contact:
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
250 710-0593
Mayor@northcowichan.ca