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HomeNewsBulkley Valley Economic Development Association announces closure

Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association announces closure

The Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association is closing their doors at the end of the year.

In an email to The Moose, the association says they won’t able to continue due to the town ending their contract.

Council voted not to renew the contract for next year.

The town contributed $70,000 to the association this year through a combination of grants and taxes.

An additional $144,000 was also allocated to tourism marketing through the association from the Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT).

After having a contract for seven years with the BVEDA, Councillor Frank Wray says the town is moving in another direction.
“We’re going to look a little more closely at how we’re going to deliver economic development next year in the budget cycle,” says Wray. “So there won’t be a year where we’re not spending that money.”

The BVEDA’s other funding partners include Area A of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and the Office of the Wet’suwet’en. The BCEDA has indicated the RDBN will be ending their contract with them as well.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako created an economic development service in 2013 to serve all the communities in the region. In 2017, Smithers taxpayers contributed $54,000 to the service.

In a memo to council this week, The Town of Smithers says they continue to support tourism marketing through the 3 per cent MRDT and will work with the Tourism Advisory Committee on a model for future delivery.

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