Regional Economic Development

ICET Economic Readiness Program Partnerships

The new Community Economic Development readiness program offered by the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) is a new pocket of funding that will allow some interesting new partnerships within the RDMW. A policy has been established in relationship to this program funding in the interests of fairness to the whole region and the sustainability of the economic development service budget.

Policy

That the Economic Development Commission submit up to two leveraged proposals to the Island Coastal Economic Trust per year to pursue one regional and one community level objective.
If pursuing a community objective, a different community must be selected every year, unincorporated or municipal, and the proposal have demonstrated region-wide significance.
If a proposal fails to gain funding, the Economic Development Commission must choose to either resubmit the former proposal again or approve a completely new proposal.
EDC contributions to ICET readiness projects are capped at $20,000 annually or $10,000 per proposal in the interests of funding sustainability.

The first proposal has already been successful, with the Growing Malcolm Island initiative gaining ICET support with some $10,000 of RDMW support and $2500 of support from Community Futures Mount Waddington.

Interested RDMW municipalities, unincorporated communities or sectoral interests should approach RDMW staff to discuss the potential for partnership further.

ABOUT THE SERVICE

The Board of Directors

In general, the Local Government Act and Community Charter permit a wide range of potential regional economic development tools or functions including, but not limited to, typical project and committee activities, with some restrictions.

The Board of Directors is a function of the Regional District of Mount Waddington, its membership comprised of four municipalities and four participating electoral areas. The board approves policy, strategy and all associated project and engagement activity.

The role of the manager of Economic Developement is to coordinate and execute core activities, provide advice, engage with stakeholders and prepare proposals in cases where the Regional District is the lead agency. There are a number of committees and working groups linked to the economic development function. This includes the MW Workforce Planning and Action Committee (WPAC) and the Vancouver Island North Tourism Advisory Committee (VINTAC). As opportunities and issues arise within the region, other committees and working groups may appear and others may change their focus. The Manager of Economic Development, representing the Board, works with these groups on issues and projects that contribute to pursuit of the Board’s regional goals. Other partners, such as external tiers of government, First Nations and the private sector are actively sought on a case-by-case basis.

www.vancouverislandnorth.ca is the regional tourism portal run by Tourism Vancouver Island under their contract with the RDMW.

2016 North Island Tourism Forum C2C

2015 Vancouver Island North Tourism Plan

2015 State of the Island Economic Report

2015 Vancouver Island North Visitor Profile

Annual strategies and reports

Woss Memorial Gazebo & Heritage Park

The Regional District of Mount Waddington has been working in close cooperation with the Woss Residents Association towards the development of a memorial gazebo to be constructed at the Nimpkish Lake Heritage Park. While this project is aimed to commemorate the historical and traditional land and forest uses of the 'Namgis First Nations, the gazebo will also be a memorial to remember those who have lost their lives while working in the forest.

To read a full article about the Woss Memorial Gazebo & Hertiage Park, please visit the article below:

Woss Memorial Gazebo & Hertiage Park Article

For anyone interested in offering financial support to the project, a Go Fund Me campaign has been initiated to allow for individuals wishing to contribute, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/6ertc-woss-memorial-gazebo.

For further information about the Woss Memorial Gazebo project, please contact:

Pat English
Manager of Economic Development
(250)-956-3301

Vancouver Island North Training & Attractions Society

ABOUT VINTAS

The Vancouver Island North Training & Attraction Society (VINTAS) is an initiative of the Regional District of Mount Waddington (RDMW), stakeholders and First Nations government supporting and facilitating initiatives occurring within the RDMW that lead to the career development, education, attraction and retention of people in the region.

To learn more about VINTAS and about the opportunities on Northern Vancouver Island visit myvancouverislandnorth

Reports and Studies

2013 Housing and Homelessness Needs Assessment

Mount Waddington Health Network

http://www.mountwaddingtonhealthnetwork.com/pdf/housing/2013_HsgandHmlss_NeedsAssessment_MWHN.pdf

Select Reports, Studies and Policies

Rural Tourism Action Grant

RURAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN ACCESS SUPPORT

In 2009, the Regional District of Mount Waddington, in partnership with the local accommodation sector, instructed the Province to levy a 2 per cent Municipal Rural District Tax (MRDT) in Electoral Areas A, B, C, D and the Village of Port Alice. Through agreements signed between RDMW and the three other municipalities, the majority of the MRDT revenue raised regionally goes toward Vancouver Island North Tourism’s regional destination marketing activities.

A small percentage of the MRDT is retained for community tourism destination marketing purposes in the RDMW bylaw area. This modest sum of annual revenue is being made available, while funds exist, to community organisations through a competitive application process that will be reviewed by the five RDMW Directors representing the bylaw area.

The primary goal is to assist rural communities in increasing tourism activity in their economies. While a regional scale approach is essential, taking time to enhance local level destination marketing through a variety of community-initiated support activities is also important.

GOALS INCLUDE:

Leveraging private sector or other resources to secure community tourism goals;
Providing an incentive to improve key building facades and capital assets that improve the visitor experience and marketability of communities;
Increase attendance numbers at local events and festivals through new niche activities or stronger promotion outside the local area;
Improving visitor information on rural communities in all media and formats.

ALL PROPOSALS MUST CONFORM, WHERE RELEVANT, TO REGIONAL DISTRICT OF MOUNT WADDINGTON OR VILLAGE OF PORT ALICE POLICIES AND BYLAWS. PROPOSALS THAT WOULD CONTRAVENE BYLAWS OR CONDONE/ PROMOTE A KNOWN BYLAW INFRINGEMENT ARE INELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT.

PROPOSALS THAT CONCERN PRIVATE OR PUBLIC LAND MUST HAVE AND PROVE ALL NECESSARY SUPPORT, PERMITS AND REGULATORY APPROVALS PRIOR TO FUNDING APPROVAL.

Ensure that you review the entire package before completing and submitting an application.