Community Marketing Strategy
One of the critical activities will be to continue the work begun last year to develop and implement a community marketing strategy. As we all know, Revelstoke is a wonderful place to live and a great place to do business. We need to get that message out to a wider audience, and encourage new business to move here, which will help create new jobs in the community. Updating our promotional materials, creating a new website dedicated to promoting economic development, marketing to international investors, and targeting small manufacturing companies are all activities that will be pursued.

Business Friendly Program
There is much evidence and research indicating that most new jobs are created by the growth and expansion of local business. The City and the Regional District are committed to providing as much support and encouragement as possible to local business and industry. Over the next few months, staff of the Community Economic Development department will contact every business in town to determine how they can best assist local business owners. With feedback from the business community, the City will implement a Revelstoke Business Friendly program and help promote Revelstoke as a business friendly community.

Tourism continues to be a major growth sector
Working closely with the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Development Coordinator, the department will pursue several initiatives designed to increase tourism business in Revelstoke. With the guidance of the Revelstoke Enhancement Committee, the community enhancement or “revite” initiative will also be continued. The City has committed to install several heritage features as part of the Trans-Canada upgrade at the western access to the city. The Enhancement Committee will establish a comprehensive enhancement vision for the community, and develop some timelines and costs to implement the vision.

Value Added Wood Potential
While there are several successful local companies involved in the value-added wood business, there is still the potential to expand the business opportunities in the area. There are excellent sources of high grade fibre in the local forest. We need to try and create more employment through better utilisation of this important resource. The department will continue to research business opportunities and promote these opportunities to potential investors.

Community Environmental Strategy
The development and completion of the Community Environmental Strategy will be a major initiative of the department this year. This process is already underway, and there will be many opportunities for the public to provide input and direction to the planning process. Look for information regarding the progress of the strategy in the coming weeks.

Communications
It is important that the community is kept up to speed on the progress of all these initiatives. Through articles in this publication, press releases in local newspapers and presentations to various community groups and organizations, the department will keep local residents apprised of the work that has been done and on the positive impacts that have resulted.

For further information contact Alan Mason, Director, Community Economic Development at 837-5345 or by e-mail at redc@revelstoke.net.
 

Alan Mason