Economic Development, in the North Cariboo, is governed by the North Cariboo Economic Development Function which was established in 1992 through Bylaw 2586. The purpose of this function is to provide funding support for economic development activities in the sub-regional service area, including Electoral Areas A, B, C and I. The directors of Areas A, B, C, and I are responsible for the governance of this service. That would be Directors Armstrong, myself, Massier, and Glassford.
Areas A, B, C and I participate in the service and taxation is based on the assessed value of land and improvements. The maximum requisition is the greater of $10,000 or $0.0257 / $1000 of assessment. In 2012, the total tax requisition from the 4 Electoral Areas was $20,000.00. The same is proposed for 2013 with a tax rate of $ 0.0167 / $1000.00.
The service is provided by means of a contract under the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Quesnel to support the Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation / QCEDC (QCEDC is a subsidiary of the City of Quesnel). Some funds are also allocated to tourism infrastructure at Deserter Creek (south-west of Quesnel; Area I), Stanley Cemetery, and Blessing Grave (Hwy. 26; Area C). These latter 3 features are supported through maintenance agreements with Lynn’s Contracting and the Friends of Barkerville.
The financial components of this function are as follows:
$17,000.00— transferred to the City of Quesnel to assist with funding QCEDC.
$3000.00— allocated to the maintenance of Tourism Infrastructure.
At present, no new goals have been set for 2013.
The manner by which Economic Development is done throughout the CRD varies by Electoral Area. Some areas (e.g. Areas D and F) have their own Economic Development functions whereby funds collected within an Area, through taxation, are spent within the Area. The business plans for these Electoral Areas refer to agreements with local groups which are responsible for delivering a service or overseeing an activity which have been identified as “economic development”. I am investigating the option of having a similar model for economic development within Area B.
I see value in supporting both models—shared, centralized economic development which the Electoral Areas and the City of Quesnel contribute to in addition to more grassroots economic development which is of direct benefit to the Area’s rural communities.
To view a copy of all the Business Plans for all CRD Economic Development Functions, refer to Section 21.6 (Finance / Budget Committee Minutes—November 15, 2012) of the December 14th CRD Board Meeting Agenda. This Agenda can be found online at https://caribooregionaldistrict.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=12431
I see value in supporting both models—shared, centralized economic development which the Electoral Areas and the City of Quesnel contribute to in addition to more grassroots economic development which is of direct benefit to the Area’s rural communities.
To view a copy of all the Business Plans for all CRD Economic Development Functions, refer to Section 21.6 (Finance / Budget Committee Minutes—November 15, 2012) of the December 14th CRD Board Meeting Agenda. This Agenda can be found online at https://caribooregionaldistrict.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=12431
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