16-97 Economic Alliance - News

First Nation to Share Benefits of Mt. Milligan Mine

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

A historic mining revenue-sharing agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the McLeod Lake Indian Band was signed today by the Chief and Council and the B.C. government. For more information, click here.

Mackenzie Celebrates the Return of its Pulp Mill

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

The restart of the Mackenzie pulp mill has generated approximately 220 direct jobs, 500 indirect jobs and provided the local community with a significant economic uplift. Read the government news release here.

Also read the Vancouver Sun article here.

ADS Brings First Tour Groups to BC This Week

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

The first organized Chinese tour groups arrived at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) this week, the first results of China granting Canada Approved Destination Status (ADS). For more information... click here.

Government of Canada and BC Launch Asia Trade Program

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

Joint funding of $2,030,000 for the B.C. Economic Innovation Partnership Program, a program to boost trade and investment with Asia, was announced today by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. Click here for more information.

Government of Canada Helps BC Beef Industry Stay Competitive in World Marketplace

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

The Government of Canada is helping the cattle industry stay ahead of the curve in the global marketplace. To read more, click here.

Historic Agreement Sees First Nation Share Mine Revenue

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

A historic mining revenue-sharing agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the Stk’emlupsemc of the Secwepemc Nation (SSN) was signed today by the SSN Chiefs and the B.C. government. Read more.

BC, Cranbrook Partner on Economic Development

Mon, 30 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

The Province and the City of Cranbrook have signed an agreement that will support the community’s future economic development. 7 priority projects have been identified - read more here!

Recent Government News Releases of interest

Tue, 10 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

Ministry of Community and Rural Development - BC, Vanderhoof Partner on Economic Development

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands - Funds Give New Life to Brownfields in BC Communities

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure & Ministry of Health Services - Cycling Infrastructure Builds Healthier Communities

$455 Million Wind Project Approved for Tumbler Ridge area

Tue, 10 Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700

Capital Power L.P. have been granted the environmental assessment certificate for the propsed Quality Wind Project. The project is consistent with plans to reduce BC Hydro's reliance on imported electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The two-year construction phase is anticipated to generate approximately 170 person-years of full-time direct employment and the operational phase approximately 300 person-years of employment. To read more, follow this link: http://www.edabc.com/default.aspx?PAGE_ID=94&do=viewNewsItem&NEWS_ID=67

Invitation to Fall Professional Development Forum

Thu, 29 Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700

The 16-97 Economic Alliance invites you to participate in our second annual Fall Professional Development Forum on September 29th and 30th. This 1.5-day interactive forum is being hosted in the friendly communities of Vanderhoof and Saik’uz First Nation.

The first day of the Forum includes a number of networking opportunities and the second a full schedule of interactive workshops relevant to many small communities.

Day 1 - includes a tour of three Vanderhoof businesses at different stages of the business cycle. This tour will provide attendees with an understanding of some of the challenges and opportunities facing business owners in a small community. Following the tour, you are invited to join the group for a dinner and networking event at the historic Reid Hotel.

Day 2 – Forum topics include Creative Partnerships with Educational Institutions, Succession Planning in Small Communities and Successful Partnerships with First Nations. Additionally, Tara Bogh from Initiatives Prince George will provide a sneak peek at the results from the 2010 Benchmarking Report.

The Forum agenda and registration information is available here.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the North Country Inn for forum attendees at a discounted rate of $72 + tax for a single occupancy, queen room. Rooms are being held until August 31^st and can be reserved by calling the hotel and explaining that you are with the “16-97 Economic Alliance.”

Please feel free to forward this invitation to others who you think may find value from this event.

If you are receiving this invitation as a 'forward' and would like to ensure you receive information about future events as well as updates from the 16-97 Economic Alliance, please add your name to our mailing list here.

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me via email or at 250-562-9622 ext. 105.

We hope to see you this fall!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Reid

Communications, 16-97 Economic Alliance

c/o Community Futures Fraser Fort George

1566 Seventh Avenue

Prince George, BC V2L 3P4

tel: 250-562-9622 ext. 105

toll free: 1-800-661-2055

fax: 250-562-9119

email: 1697economicalliance@cnc.bc.ca

Final Report available for NIMG Project

Thu, 15 Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700

The final report from the Northern Interior Mining Group project is now available on the website. Please view it here.

Quesnel Community Energy System the first of its kind in North America

Fri, 09 Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700

News Release... "The Quesnel Community Energy System is a biomass system that will use waste heat and left-over residues from milling at West Fraser's Quesnel sawmill to generate both heat and electricity." Read more!

McBride has taken an innovative approach to waste water treatment

Fri, 09 Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700

The Village of McBride has used 'green' technology to both expand wastewater capacity and increase tourism infrastructure. How you ask?? Read more here...

Journal of Commerce

News Release from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

The Economic Development Association of BC has awarded the Village of McBride for it's Eco-Sensitive solution to waste water treatment. Read about the recognition here.

Thank you RDFFG

Wed, 07 Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700

The 16/97 Economic Alliance would like to extend a special thank-you to the Regional District of Fraser Fort George for their continued support of Alliance activities. The Alliance looks forward to maximizing opportunities for regional networking and education sessions during the remainder of 2010.

June Edition of Signposts

Tue, 01 Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700

Click here to check out our June Edition of Signposts!

Resources North Advances - May 2010 Newsletter

Mon, 17 May 10 00:00:00 -0700

Here is the link to the Resources North Advances May 2010 Newsletter for your information. Updates include Canadian Model Forest Network, Bioenergy and more. We have also added a link to Resources North Publications to our site under Resources for easy access in the future. Thanks!

http://www.resourcesnorth.org/rna/517/may+2010+newsletter

Exciting Opportunity for Professional Development

Tue, 27 Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700

2010 Spring Professional Development Forum (May 26 & 27 in Quesnel)

Join the 16/97 Economic Alliance for a valuable professional development session in Quesnel on May 26 and May 27, 2010. Topics include Agriculture Initiatives: What’s Happening Around the North, How to Plug Into Transportation Strategies, Sustainable Businesses in Small Communities... and More.

Draft Agenda

Wednesday May 26th

1:00pm

Tour of several agricultural initiatives happening around Quesnel... with treats on the bus of course!

5:30pm

Dinner and Networking at River Rock Restaurant

Thursday May 27th

8:00am

Breakfast

8:30am

Agriculture Initiatives: What’s Happening Around the North

This facilitated roundtable will provide opportunities to learn about innovative agriculture and local food projects taking place around Northern BC communities as well as provide a chance to share ideas generated from the agriculture tour.

10:00am

Coffee Break

10:15am

How to Plug Into Transportation Strategies

This panel discussion will provide an overview of the major transportation plans in the region as well as ways in which smaller communities can benefit from these plans.

11:45am

Lunch/Table Topics

This interactive working lunch will provide opportunities to connect with others in the region who are working on similar initiatives as well as promote discussion around potential partnerships.

12:45pm

Sustainable Businesses in Small Communities

This facilitated discussion will provide opportunities to learn from initiatives around the province as well as to discuss how communities can support existing small businesses.

2:00pm

Coffee Break

2:15pm

Tourism Post 2010

This session will provide opportunities to discuss how communities can take advantage of the interest generated in BC through the 2010 Winter Olympics.

3:30pm

Closing

Prince George - a competitive place to do business

Wed, 31 Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700

KPMG has just released the 2010 Competitive Alternatives Study and it shows that Prince George is ranked as the most competitive place to do business amongst 13 cities in the Pacific US and Canada.

For more information, follow these links:

http://www.competitivealternatives.com/

http://www.competitivealternatives.com/cityprofiles/showprofile.aspx?id=PRG

Networking Session Planned for April 21, 2010

Wed, 31 Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700

The 16/97 Economic Alliance is excited to invite you to attend our next networking session! This will be a breakfast gathering for community economic development professionals on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Mr. Ken Peacock from the Business Council of BC is the guest speaker. This informal get together will be a great opportunity to catch up and to trade ideas and partnership possibilities with other economic development practitioners.

Date: Wednesday April 21, 2010

Time: 8:00am-10:00am

Location: McGregor Room, Coast Inn of the North, 770 Brunswick St.

Speaker: Ken Peacock, Director of Economic Research, Business Council of BC

A travel subsidy will be offered to out of town participants.

Please contact Rebecca Reid c/o Community Futures Fraser Fort George for more information. Tel: 250-562-9622 ext. 105 or email 1697economicalliance@cnc.bc.ca

Changing the potential February "Forum" to March

Tue, 29 Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800

I just wanted to thank those who were able to fill out the survey for feedback on the suggested February forum. At a recent general meeting with 16/97 Economic Alliance partners - we have decided to change the anticipated February "Forum" to March.

Please email 16/97 Communications at 1697economicalliance@cnc.bc.ca re:

your input about the best dates in March; and
if you can participate on an ad hoc planning committee for March’s event. The ad hoc planning committee will be a couple of conference calls in January, followed by a little more direction as we get closer to the event date.

Angela from CNC and Rebecca from CFDC will be coordinating most of the details for the Alliance. We will be looking for professional development topics and speakers as well as ideas to frame the days’ events.

Please contact 1697economicalliance@cnc.bc.ca or Angela at 250 562 2131, ext 5479 to coordinate your information and help this 1.5 day event be an excellent forum for discussion and networking. I encourage you to review a copy of the DRAFT Action Plan (found on the home page) that came out of the Fall Forum in McBride - you can see that events such as this are what people have asked for.

Susan Stearns, Chair

Northern Rural and Remote Communities Green Heat Initiative

Wed, 21 Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700

Natural gas is the energy source of choice for most of British Columiba. In Northern British Columbia, natural gas distribution networks follow the main transportation corridors of Highway 97 and Highway 16. Unfortunately, many Northern communities are not within range of this network and are unable to access natural gas. As a result, these communities rely on (click here to read more)....

Northern Interior Mining Group Developing Directory

Thu, 24 Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700

Over the course of the next several months NIMG (sponsored by the 16/97 Economic Alliance) will share with Del Communications the compiled business information received from industry across the north. Del Communications is developing a NIMG directory for use in promoting and selling the mining-related services of north-central B.C.

The NIMG Mining Services and Buyers Guide will be a full colour, coil-bound glossy stock directory available to all who want to keep their finger on the pulse of what is happening in Mining, Exploration and Supply in the Northern Interior.

If you'd like to develop an ad for the Directory carrying an exclusive NIMG-based Mining Services message, DEL Communications Inc. will happily assist you, free-of charge. Deadline for reserving space in the Directory is December 15th, 2009.

If you're interested in reserving advertising space, please contact Jason Stefanik 1 866 831 4744 or email jason@delcommunications.com.

For more information about NIMG, contact Fraser Deacon at 250 640 4742.

Summary of Funding Programs for Economic Development and Diversification

Wed, 23 Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700

Please go to the following link:

http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/econ_divers/economic_devl_programs.htm

Northern Trust Community Funding Application Intake Deadline

Wed, 23 Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700

To review criteria and application process, please go to:

http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/calendar/61/17-Community-Funding-Application-Intake-Deadline

August 2009 OBAC Diversification and Implementation Plan

Wed, 23 Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700

Link to pdf document: http://www.ominecacoalition.ca/pdf/OBACDiversificationImplementationPlanAug28Summary.pdf

Act Introduced to Expand Wood Use in Public Buildings

Wed, 23 Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700

Click here to review the News Release from Ministry of Forests and Range dated September 22, 2009.

The 16/97 Economic Alliance is in transition!

Wed, 01 Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700

We have successfully completed several major projects in the past two years, including annual benchmarking reports, the industry cluster identification and prioritization project, and, in partnership with the Northern Interior Mining Group (NIMG), the initiation of a formal mining cluster.

These projects have taught us a lot, and we look forward to working together with our communities to expand cluster work, measure outcomes and encourage collaboration for economic development in the region. In particular, our recent experiences show us the exciting opportunities ahead for the Alliance to work with industry and communities to initiate and launch new clusters, provide support and assist with monitoring and communication of direction and success.

As part of our transition we are moving from directly managing projects back to our foundation purpose: coordination of opportunities for sharing and learning, communication of economic development initiatives and directions, collaborative planning for new initiatives, and support for cluster development. As part of this, effective March 31, 2009 the Alliance will no longer have a funded Executive Director position, which has been ably filled by Fraser Deacon. Fraser will continue to work on the mining cluster project, the Northern Interior Mining Group, through the Innovation Resource Centre, but the Alliance Board will again take on the organization and coordination of the Alliance.

For information on the Alliance’s activities and plans during the transition period, please contact:

Susan Stearns, Chair

Cathe Wishart, Secretary-Treasurer