Economic Development Strategy & Business Survey

The Economic Development and Partnerships Department at the City of Vernon is excited to announce the development of a comprehensive three-year Economic Development Strategy project that will be undertaken over the next four to five months.

With a population of over 48,000, Vernon serves as a commercial hub for nearly 100,000 people in the North Okanagan region. Historically reliant on agriculture and resource extraction, Vernon's economy has evolved significantly. Today, it encompasses diverse sectors that offer new job opportunities and economic prosperity across various sectors such as tourism, information technology, healthcare, and education.

The Economic Development Strategy will explore roles and opportunities the City can take to support economic growth and business development, while ensuring that Vernon continues to grow as an attractive place for investment. This includes identifying potential partnership and collaboration opportunities with existing economic and business development service providers in the Vernon and greater area.

What is an Economic Development Strategy?

Municipalities can play a key support and partner role in helping facilitate economic growth and development in a community. An economic development strategy is a planning document that outlines economic goals, strategies, and actions to guide municipal efforts in creating a business and investment supportive community.

These strategies consider a wide range of areas to understand where a municipality can achieve real impacts given its role as a local government organization and the resources available to it, including:

  • Retention and expansion of local businesses: Supporting existing businesses to grow and thrive.
  • Entrepreneurial development: Encouraging innovation and new business ventures.
  • Community cash flow development: Enhancing the economic flow within our community.
  • Business investment and attraction: Attracting new businesses and investments to Vernon.
  • Workforce development: Ensuring our workforce is skilled and ready for future opportunities.

Project Engagement

The City will engage with local businesses and other contributors to the economic development sector through a series of meetings, workshops, and a survey. These efforts aim to explore the current state of the business landscape, to gain a better understanding of challenges and opportunities, and to explore a vision, goals and associated actions to enhance the City’s role in the business ecosystem. The City will also engage with a city-appointed Economic Development Advisory committee.

Business Survey
An online survey is available for local business owners, large and small, to help shape the Economic Development Strategy.

SURVEY EXTENDED to JANUARY 28th! --> The Business Survey is now open until January 17th, 2025! Click the link below to complete the survey.

Business Workshops
In-person workshops will be held on January 14th, 2025 at a variety of times throughout the day to accommodate various schedules. A virtual option is also available on January 16th, for those who can't make it in-person.

Intended for:

  • Local business groups/organizations
  • Education, employment, training institutions
  • Major employers
  • Local businesses and business

Registration in advance is required at: https://vernonecdevstrategy.eventbrite.ca

The Economic Development and Partnerships Department at the City of Vernon is excited to announce the development of a comprehensive three-year Economic Development Strategy project that will be undertaken over the next four to five months.

With a population of over 48,000, Vernon serves as a commercial hub for nearly 100,000 people in the North Okanagan region. Historically reliant on agriculture and resource extraction, Vernon's economy has evolved significantly. Today, it encompasses diverse sectors that offer new job opportunities and economic prosperity across various sectors such as tourism, information technology, healthcare, and education.

The Economic Development Strategy will explore roles and opportunities the City can take to support economic growth and business development, while ensuring that Vernon continues to grow as an attractive place for investment. This includes identifying potential partnership and collaboration opportunities with existing economic and business development service providers in the Vernon and greater area.

What is an Economic Development Strategy?

Municipalities can play a key support and partner role in helping facilitate economic growth and development in a community. An economic development strategy is a planning document that outlines economic goals, strategies, and actions to guide municipal efforts in creating a business and investment supportive community.

These strategies consider a wide range of areas to understand where a municipality can achieve real impacts given its role as a local government organization and the resources available to it, including:

  • Retention and expansion of local businesses: Supporting existing businesses to grow and thrive.
  • Entrepreneurial development: Encouraging innovation and new business ventures.
  • Community cash flow development: Enhancing the economic flow within our community.
  • Business investment and attraction: Attracting new businesses and investments to Vernon.
  • Workforce development: Ensuring our workforce is skilled and ready for future opportunities.

Project Engagement

The City will engage with local businesses and other contributors to the economic development sector through a series of meetings, workshops, and a survey. These efforts aim to explore the current state of the business landscape, to gain a better understanding of challenges and opportunities, and to explore a vision, goals and associated actions to enhance the City’s role in the business ecosystem. The City will also engage with a city-appointed Economic Development Advisory committee.

Business Survey
An online survey is available for local business owners, large and small, to help shape the Economic Development Strategy.

SURVEY EXTENDED to JANUARY 28th! --> The Business Survey is now open until January 17th, 2025! Click the link below to complete the survey.

Business Workshops
In-person workshops will be held on January 14th, 2025 at a variety of times throughout the day to accommodate various schedules. A virtual option is also available on January 16th, for those who can't make it in-person.

Intended for:

  • Local business groups/organizations
  • Education, employment, training institutions
  • Major employers
  • Local businesses and business

Registration in advance is required at: https://vernonecdevstrategy.eventbrite.ca

Page last updated: 03 Feb 2025, 11:50 AM