Community Economic Development Committee

Message from Bowen Businesses

Bowen businesses would like to share the following message with the community:

 

Posters are available for pick-up at Cocoa West and the Bowen Pub. You may also download your own here:

Bowen Business Navigators 

Free Service Sponsored by the Community Foundation Resiliency Fund and Bowen Island Municipality

The Bowen Business Navigators are part of the Community Economic Sustainability Assistance Project that aims to help our local economy thrive in a "new normal". Rod Marsh, CEDC Chair, and Vaune Kolber, CEDC Vice Chair, are offering free, one-to-one consultations to local businesses to help navigate the wide range of government and community resources available to assist businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was made possible by the support of the  Community Foundation Resiliency Fund and the Bowen Island Municipality.  Business owners can schedule an appointment by emailing: bowenbusinessnavigator@gmail.com.

DISCLAIMER: The guidance provided by this service is for general information purposes only. By using these no cost services, you accept any and all risks associated with your financial and business decisions and will rely on your own judgment or those of your own professional advisors. You also agree that you will not seek to recover any loss or damages from the individuals or Bowen Island Municipality arising from the use of these services. Any confidential information disclosed by the business will be kept anonymous.     

Rural Islands Gift Certificate Program

The Rural Islands Economic Partnership Society (RIEPS) is launching an online gift certificate program to support island businesses. Registration is free for businesses and gift certificate purchases will be promoted through a variety of channels including BIM communications. To participate:

  1. Stripe: If you are not already registered with the Stripe payment platform (similar to Pay Pal), please register at this link: https://dashboard.stripe.com/register. 
  2. Online Gift Certificate Website: Register for the online gift certificate and donation program here: https://hub.ruralislandspartnership.ca/vendor-registration/.
  3. Next Steps: Stay tuned for next steps on how this program will roll out once we have the website up and running.

Click this link to see promotional material.

Community Futures Sunshine Coast - Bowen Island

Bowen Island is eligible to access resources and funding offered by Community Futures Sunshine Coast. Here is a link to the Regional Relief and Recovery Funding (RRRF) loans program application (loans of up to a maximum of $40,000 with 25% forgiveness available).

(Note: There are also informative resources linked in the documents provided under Meet Up summaries)

Resources 

Bowen Island Digital Meet Ups for Businesses (via Zoom)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEDC Business Engagement Working Group is hosting weekly online sessions to support businesses. These Zoom meetings are called "Bowen Island Digital Meet Ups for Businesses" and are held every Wednesday morning at 9:30am.

To join in on these sessions, make sure you have the Zoom app downloaded and when you are ready to join, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/4243058374.

Heartfelt thanks to the CEDC subcommittee members who are hosting and coordinating this initiative, particularly Rod Marsh, Vaune Kolber, Natasha Vaz and Chris Corrigan. 

Recordings of each session will be posted on this page. We will also be posting resources that come from the provincial and federal levels of government here. If you would like to be added to the mailing list of Bowen businesses, please email Stef Shortt at sshortt@bimbc.ca.

Re-opening, Buy Local, Branded Signage, and Advertising.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 9:30am

Emergency Finance Update and What is a Safe Re-Opening for Bowen?

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 9:30am

BC's Restart Plan: What does it Mean for Bowen Businesses?

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 9:30am

What does our Business Comeback Look Like?

Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 9:30am

Business Tools and Financial Supports

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Food, Farm and Supply Chain

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 9:30am

What Will it Take For My Business to Recover?

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 9:30am

Hearing from Bowen Businesses: Adapting to Change

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 9:30am

Emergency Financial Support Programs from Federal and Provincial Governments

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 9:30am

Employment Insurance (EI) and Record of Employment Documents (ROEs)

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 9:30am 

Please take four minutes to complete our COVID-19 Business Survey.

Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC)

Purpose of the Committee:

To facilitate Bowen Island community economic development and provide advice to Council about economic development for Bowen Island.

Committee Members:

  • Rod Marsh, Chair
  • Vaune Kolber, Vice Chair
  • Wolfgang Duntz
  • Kiersten Enemark
  • Marcus Ewart-Johns
  • Jody Lorenz
  • Natasha Vaz
  • Ed Wachtman
  • Councillor Michael Kaile
  • Councillor Alison Morse
  • Councillor Maureen Nicholson 
  • Helen Platts, Community Economic Development Officer (CEDO) (non-voting)
  • Stef Shortt, Staff Liaison (non-voting)

To contact the Economic Development Committee please email: cedc@bimbc.ca

Governing Documents:

Terms of Reference

Video Recordings:

Agendas

Minutes

You may also find agendas, minutes and videos on the Committees webpage.

Sign up for the EDC Newsletter to receive e-mails about business on Bowen. Click HERE to subscribe.

Business Licensing

On July 25, 2016, Council directed the EDC to include the development of recommendations for municipal business licensing in its 2017 Work Plan.

On October 18, 2018, EDC members provided a presentation to members of the business community regarding business licensing at the Fall Business Summit and received their feedback.

On November 27, 2017, the EDC presented its Business Licensing Feasibility Report to Council who directed staff to identify next steps and resources required for a business licensing program as a priority under Strategic Pillar F - Robust and Resilient Local Economy - of the 2018 Island Plan. Work on this project is ongoing. 

On January 23, 2018 EDC members provided a presentation to members of the business community regarding the implementation of business licensing at Business Summit and received their feedback.

Council asked staff to review the report and return with an analysis of the recommendations, and identified business licensing as a priority in the Island Plan.

In 2018, staff reported back to Council with a detailed analysis of the recommendations, including a proposed business licensing bylaw and a proposed implementation schedule.

Staff Report: July 13, 2018

Open House Display Boards: September 13, 2018

Communication Plan

Staff Report: September 24, 2018

Staff Report: October 1, 2018

The Business Licence Bylaw No. 465, 2018 was adopted on October 9, 2018, and will take effect on January 1, 2019.

A transition period was scheduled in early 2019 while the business licensing program is being set up. Municipal staff will begin accepting applications in January 2019.

During this time, staff will also be developing an online business directory that will be available for the public to find businesses on Bowen Island, and an online platform that will make applying and paying for business licences as simple as possible for businesses.

At the CEDC Annual Business Summit February 20, 2019, an update on the business license program was presented. 

For the most up-to-date information on business licenses, please go to this link.

Branding

On October 1, 2014 the EDC presented their branding initiative to the Committee of the Whole:

On December 15, 2015, the EDC provided the following presentations to the Committee of the Whole: 

On January 25, 2016 Chris Staples of Rethink Solutions provided a branding presentation to Council:

On February 15, 2016, the EDC delivered a presentation of their branding research to the Committee of the Whole: 

On June 27, 2016 Chris Staples of Rethink Solutions provided a presentation to the Committee of the Whole:

Subsequently, on June 27, 2016, Council adopted the Community Brand.

On November 17, 2016, Chris Staples provided the following presentations to the Economic Development Committee:

Read a brief history of the Bowen Island Branding Initiative.

Public support for the brand story includes:

 

Events

2016 Building Bowen Island's Local Economy Workshop
(Co-Hosted by BIM EDC and the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training)

On March 31, 2016, in collaboration with the Minstry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, the EDC hosted an all- workshop. Below are links to presentations and notes.

2016 EDC Business Summit 

On October 18, 2016 the EDC hosted an open meeting for Bowen businesses. Over 65 business owners were in attendance for a lively evening of discussion, small group exercises and networking. The following topics were presented:

Other information from the 2016 EDC Business Summit includes:

2018 EDC Business Summit

On Tuesday, January 23, 2018 the EDC hosted an open meeting for businesses. 

2019 CEDC Business Summit

On Tuesday, February 20, 2019, the CEDC hosted its annual business summit.

Work Plans and Annual Reports

Community Engagement

Surveys

Three surveys were conducted in 2014 and 2015:

Summits

Four Local Business Summits and Workshops were held in 2016, 2018 and 2019 (see Events tab above)

Conversations

The EDC holds regular Business Breakfasts with various sectors of the Bowen Island business community including:

  • Food Businesses (April 11, 2018): Notes
  • Retail Businesses (June 27, 2018): Notes
  • Trades (October 24, 2018): Notes

Committee Meetings

Most Economic Development Committee meetings are open to the public and are publicized on the BIM website. Special promotion will occur when a guest speaker has been invited to present or an EDC initiative is going before Council for approval.

Subcommittee Meetings

EDC members often form subcommittees to work on priority initiatives which are open to members of the community. If you are interested in participating in a subcommittee, please contact edc@bimbc.ca.

 

Publications

Publications

The Economic Development Committee has been involved in the production of several documents including:

Publications that inform the work of the EDC include:

Guest Speakers

The EDC often invites guest speakers series to present for the Committee and members of the public. These include:

Lindsay Bisschop, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training (2016)

Wes Regan, Community Economic Development Planner for the City of Vancouver (December 15, 2017)

Stephen Mikichich, Economic Development Manager, District of West Vancouver (April 20, 2018)

Councillor Silas White, Town of Gibsons (May 11, 2018)

Zarah Gale, Community Futures Sunshine Coast (June 8, 2018)

 

Reference: Bowen Island

The following is a list of resources specific to Bowen Island.

Reference: General

The following is a list of general resources regarding economic development.

Zoom Meetings

Bowen Business Meet Ups (via Zoom)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEDC Business Engagement Working Group is hosting weekly online sessions to support businesses. These Zoom meetings are called "Bowen Business Meet Ups".

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 9:30 am

Last Updated on 2020-06-01 at 10:07 AM