Economic Development

The Overarching Goal – Jobs

Think of economic development as being about encouraging local employment, where we focus to varying degrees on:

• Investment attraction and new job creation
• Retention and expansion of existing business
• Tourism development
• Municipal policies that help create jobs
• Marketing the community to attract investment and visitors
• Economic development program/people/organization to undertake initiatives

Fruitvale’s Strengths

Fruitvale’s strengths in healthcare, retail, and public administration generally describe a services-focused bedroom community. An exception is wood products manufacturing – the 3^rd largest industry sector in Fruitvale – but a sector that also has 50% less local employment than it did 10 years ago.

Other community strengths to consider as you think about future opportunities for Fruitvale:

• Housing affordability
• Competitive business costs
• Location of choice for sports and culture events
• Easy access to the Trail economic corridor with its substantial employment opportunities

The Knowledge Based Economy

As the Canadian and BC economy continues to transition to a more knowledge-based economy, an increasing share of our economy belongs to independent entrepreneurs, creators, makers, technology workers, and online spaces. This workforce choses the community they want to live in for lifestyle reasons, and bring their job with them. Research says important lifestyle factors are:

• Airport access
• Population diversity
• Lifestyle amenities
• Entertainment experiences
• Authentic/interesting sense of place
• A tolerant community, open to newcomers

Supporting Residents

Jobs also don’t exist in a vacuum. Exceptional communities that are great places to live are forward thinking, and create policies and programs that facilitate and support:

• Affordable housing
• Healthcare
• Education
• A downtown as the “heart” of community
• Quality basic infrastructure (roads, pipes)
• Quality recreation amenities
• Social supports for our most vulnerable residents

Plans Into Action

An Economic Development Strategy puts these pieces together in a plan of action that:

• Accelerates the development of industry sector strengths
• Enhances business retention and expansion
• Makes enterprise-friendly policy adjustments
• Implements new ideas that nurture job growth and community development

Critical partners in our Economic Development Strategy:

The Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation with direction and recommendations from the LCCDTS, undertakes programs and projects designed to grow and diversify the local economy (Lower Columbia / Kootenay Region) by attracting new business, retention and expansion of existing businesses.

The LCIC also actively supports and leads our community on priority initiatives, projects and programs that have been identified as regional economic drivers. They strive to stimulate and facilitate economic growth within the Lower Columbia communities. Their goal is to create a strong, vibrant, and diverse regional economy that supports community development, growth, and economic prosperity. 

For more information and to learn about the LCIC, click here.

Trail & District Chamber of Commerce

With a forward vision of creating a business support organization that has transpired over the centuries, today our Chamber has grown to serve five municipalities in the south Kootenay which include Rossland, Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale, and RDKB Areas A and B. As our growing organization evolve, or vision and focus remain to leverage platforms and tools to ask questions, encourage conversation, spark discussion and act on the insights gained to further business and community development. Whether it’s advocating to local provincial or federal governments for changes to public policy, developing innovative programs and initiatives to support business , the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce is the first point of contact and an essential resource in a thriving business community.

For more information and to learn about the Trail & District Chamber of Commerce, click here.