Vancouver Island communities north of the Malahat are banding together to lure technology businesses to their region.
鈥淭he ultimate goal is we all want to diversify our economies,鈥� Rose Klukas, Campbell River鈥檚 economic development officer, said Wednesday. 鈥淲e know technology jobs are well-paying generally speaking and technology businesses also create a lot of multiplier jobs, so they have a good spin-off effect.鈥�
Klukas, who is president of the Vancouver Island Coast Economic Development Association, said about three years ago, the group recognized an opportunity to grow tech businesses in smaller Island communities.
Participating communities so far include Campbell River, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Parksville, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and Qualicum Beach, but others are welcome, she said.
鈥淲herever there is growth in technology on Vancouver Island, it will benefit all of us,鈥� Klukas said.
Many sa国际传媒 communities have long been reliant on the resource sector, but technology is offering new ways to work within those industries. 鈥淲e see innovation and technology supporting growth in the industries,鈥� Klukas said. 鈥淲e really want to encourage that kind of business development here as well.鈥�
The group realized it had to make a special push to highlight the region, since people in the tech sector might be attracted to larger communities.
鈥淲e also recognized that by banding together as communities and showcasing the region, rather than each of our individual communities, we would probably reach a broader audience.鈥�
A strategy was developed in the first year of the tech initiative, and last year, a website was built at techisland.io. It launched earlier this year.
Now in its third year, the organization is aiming to attract tech business and foreign investment.
Through the city of Campbell River, it has published an opportunity for a regional technology attraction marketing initiative. The request closes Jan. 4.
鈥淲e are now looking to advance our marketing initiatives to showcase why you want to build your business on Vancouver Island,鈥� Klukas said.
Each community has different amenities, attractions and specialties that might attract different kind of people, she said.
The website can be enhanced in the future by showcasing existing businesses, something that helps attracts newcomers, Klukas said. A job board is also on the to-do list.
Being on Vancouver Island is a plus in the year of COVID, she said.
鈥淭he fact that we live in an area that has a lot of space is becoming very attractive to people,鈥� said Klukas, who has been in Campbell River for four years. 鈥淚鈥檝e taken more calls this year from people looking for other places to live and move their businesses than the whole time I鈥檝e been here.鈥�
