The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) supports economic growth and stability throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin by:
- Working to facilitate connections between regional stakeholders (member municipalities, community groups, First Nations, small business, and industry
- Providing capacity support to community-led initiatives focused on ensuring the Cariboo Region remains a desirable place to live, work and invest.
The CRD's community economic development services are delivered through the Economic/Community Development Officer. As the primary contact within the CRD for industrial and business inquiries, they assist community groups in researching and accessing funding. They also take the lead on developing and initiating regional and sub-regional economic development projects and programs for the benefit of Cariboo residents. This position is funded in part through the Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Development Capacity Building program.
Reasons to invest in the Cariboo Chilcotin
The Cariboo and Chilcotin is a great place to invest, start a business, or open a satellite office. Here are some of the key reasons more and more businesses are looking to our region for new opportunities.
Proximity to Markets and Infrastructure
Highway, rail access, and air service from regional centers offers businesses in the Cariboo timely shipping to and from regional hubs such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, or Prince Rupert, and access to international markets. Ongoing investments and upgrades to high-speed Internet access and connectivity across the region continues to grow the ability of business and industry to meet the needs of a global customer base.
Lifestyle and Outdoor Activities
The Cariboo combination of country lifestyle and city amenities makes recruiting and keeping quality employees easier. Affordable housing. Open spaces and access to nature. Countless recreational opportunities. And daily commutes averaging 5 – 20 minutes. We have them all! When it comes to the great outdoors there's opportunities for the hunting and fishing enthusiast, the avid mountain biker, golfers, curlers, paddlers, hikers, and so much more.
Culture and Community
From modern pastimes to centuries-old traditions, the Cariboo has something for every interest. We're home to guilds of talented arts and craftspeople working in a variety of mediums and traditions. If volunteering is your thing, our local service clubs are sure to welcome you. You'll find locally grown foods at our farmer's markets, world-class talent at our festivals, and a warm hello at every turn. Come for a visit. You'll find out why so many people stay!
Economic Development Related Links
| Grants and Funding |
| CRD Grant Writing Support |
| Business Support Services |
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Regional Community Futures North Cariboo Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin Provincial Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant Federal Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
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Sub-regional Economic Development Services
As part of the Cariboo Regional District's commitment to community economic development, the CRD has established and administers several services to support economic and community development activities at a sub-regional level. These services are primarily funded through taxes levied from benefitting properties, based on the assessed residential property values. For many of these services, the CRD has entered into partnership agreements with local organizations, committing funds for the delivery of services which promote economic and community development.
North Cariboo Economic Development
The North Cariboo Economic Development function was established through Bylaw No. 2586 in 1992. The purpose of the service is to provide funding support through contributions for economic development activities in the service area, including Electoral Areas A, B, C and I.
Tourism infrastructure, including public outhouses at Deserter Creek, Bouchie Lake and Milburn Lake west of Quesnel, and at Stanley Cemetery and Blessings Grave on Highway 26, are supported through maintenance agreements with a contractor (2018-2019), the Bouchie Lake Stewardship Society (2017-2019) and the Friends of Barkerville (2018-2020). The service also supports a tourism support and project-based agreement with the City of Quesnel for the Quesnel Visitor Information Centre (2018-2020) and with the North Cariboo Agricultural Advisory Committee (2018-2020).
Central Cariboo and Chilcotin Economic Development
The Central Cariboo and Chilcotin Economic Development function was established in 2019 to provide funding support toward economic development activities in the service area, including Electoral Areas D, E, F, J and K. This new service was created to promote economic development in important sectors such as tourism, agriculture, natural resources development and the retention and attraction of businesses and residents.
This service is provided through contracts for various economic development initiatives, which currently include three-year term Visitor Information Services support agreements with the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the Horsefly Board of Trade, the Likely Chamber of Commerce, the 150 Mile Greenbelt, Trail and Heritage Society and the Community Services and Development Society of Alexis Creek.
The service also provides a contribution to the McLeese Lake Farmer's Market Association to support the promotion and operation of the McLeese Lake Farmer's Market.
South Cariboo Economic Development
The South Cariboo Economic Development service was originally established through Bylaw No. 3573 in 2000. In 2004, Bylaw No. 3878 limited the service to Electoral Areas G and L. In 2007, Bylaw No. 4312 added Electoral Area H back into the function. The service was created to support and promote economic development in the South Cariboo. This service is provided through project and service delivery-based agreements with the 100 Mile Development Corporation and South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce.
Currently, there are two contribution agreements in place with the Development Corporation to support the South Cariboo Tourism Marketing Strategy (2019-2021), and operations of the Visitor Information Centre (2017-2019). Agreements are also in place to make contributions to the 100 Mile House sani-dump (2019-2021), to support tourism infrastructure and an advertising agreement with the Rotary Club of 100 Mile House (2019-2023) for its mobile stage.