COEDC Newsletter

Jul. 6

Written By COEDC RDCO

Central Okanagan Economic News(letter)

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Economic Development News(letter)

July 6th, 2023

New Data Portal Features!

The COEDC CityViz data portal has been upgraded to include some exciting new features on our explore page! Upgrades include:

Business counts at census dissemination area have been added. Business counts are filterable by sector and industry and are shown as bubbles whose size depends on the number of businesses in that area. Hovering over the bubble shows the business count.

Filters have been added to narrow down the areas in the community based on the selected criteria. The filters include population, median household income, average age, population density, percentage of single-family homes, indigenous population, immigrant population, visible minorities, unemployment rate and median owner dwelling value.

Clicking any area on the map shows a popup with more information about that area. This has been moved from bottom-right corner of the page to map popup, to accommodate the space for filters described in previous point.

Data Portal

Accelerate Okanagan Programs Info Session

In this presentation, Accelerate Okanagan (AO) will introduce you to their accelerator programs designed to empower and support startup founders on their journey. Discover how their programs can provide the necessary resources to fuel your startup's growth and give you a solid foundation to work from.

They will outline the minimum requirements, ideal profiles, and key benefits of each program, helping you determine the best fit for your startup's current stage and objectives. In addition, you'll gain insights into the overall support we provide as a tech accelerator.

Join AO for this informative session and discover how their accelerator programs can propel your startup's success.

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Accessible Attributes Checklist

Information about accessible services and programs is key to providing good customer service and helping guests determine if your business meets their individual needs.

Accessibility attributes indicate whether a business is accessible for people with mobility needs, with visual and/or hearing requirements, or with diverse cognitive or sensory abilities.

Destination BC has compiled this accessibility attributes checklist to support tourism businesses in self-assessing accessibility attributes and help inform visitors of their accessible offerings. This checklist can also be applied to non-tourism businesses as well!

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Are you a job seeker 55 years of age or older?

Options 55+ is specifically designed to assist job seekers 55 years of age or older to re-enter the workforce. This program, offered by Kelowna Community Resources (KCR), provides you with what you need to be successful: One-to-one support, group training modules and workshops, computer training, assistance in job search and much more.

In addition, KCR partners with local community agencies, provides follow-up support and assists you to attain skills training to prepare for work in your chosen career. All services are customized to what you need!

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How to Leverage Grants to Help Your Business Grow

Looking to grow your staff but struggling to make the numbers work? Savvy companies across BC are adding to their roster of talent while offsetting the cost. The secret? Hiring grants.

If you’re new to the world of grants, you may not be aware of the variety of programs available to support your business. The good news is, business owners have plenty of options that vary based on industry, job title, candidate eligibility, and duration of support. The biggest challenge you may face is selecting the grant that works best for your unique circumstances.

Join Stephanie Sang, CEO of Granted and Grant Angel, as she walks you through your grant options and best practices for utilizing hiring grants throughout the year. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to grow your business.

This webinar is free to attend and will be held on July 11 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am PST!

Business Continuity Resources

Being prepared for emergencies is crucial for the safety and well-being of ourselves, our loved ones, and our businesses.

We understand the importance of being proactive and ready for any unexpected events. That's why we encourage you to check out our Business Continuity Resources page, where you'll find helpful tips and resources to help you prepare for emergencies that could impact your business.

Let's work together to be proactive and stay informed.