Summer 2010

Summer 2010 Newsletter

VK business corral

Venture Kamloops has an exciting new initiative underway, the VK Business Corral. The Business Corral provides dedicated Kamloops Entrepreneurs access to a skilled and responsive business start-up advisory committee. The committee is a group of business professionals who have collective expertise and experience covering many facets of business start-up and exposure to connections with a variety of key Kamloops sectors.

The meeting format is a Dragon’s Den concept: a session, once a month, with one new business venture. After the business pitch has been presented the committee conducts a vigorous Q & A session with the entrepreneur. The session is further enhanced by way of a feedback form that the committee members have completed over the course of the presentation and then given to the entrepreneur as a takeaway. Comments to date from both the Entrepreneurs and the committee have been extremely positive.

If you are an upcoming or existing Entrepreneur and would like to be considered for an opportunity to showcase your business at the VK Business Corral ,or know of any promising Kamloops ventures that you feel would benefit from the VK Business Corral, contact Gregg Murray, Business Retention & Expansion Manager at Venture Kamloops.

Economic Indicators

As the premier resource for information, referral and services necessary for the start up, expansion and retention of business in Kamloops, Venture Kamloops is continually working to update and expand our community database of Economic information.

Information on business licensing, employment rates, Kamloops building stats, rental rates, housing prices and Canada Census information are all available on our website.

For sources and more detail visit: www.venturekamloops.com/economicindicators.htm

WHAT'S NEW: The CMHC Spring 2010 Rental Market Report is now available on the VK site and shows an April 09 to April 10 vacancy rate increase of 2.3%. For more details about the report visit Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Kamloops Airport

Since the Kamloops Airport first began operating, it has been dedicated to providing people the best possible service. Today, the staff at YVR continue to improve the quality of travel and services available at the airport.

There are many new options available that benefit both vacationers and business travelers:

The airport passenger numbers are increasing month after month and everyone is enjoying the new terminal facilities and restaurant. The aircraft parking positions have also been redesigned to shorten the walking distance between the terminal and aircraft. In addition to improving flight service, the Kamloops Airport is also committed to continuously working to improve the facilities. Beginning this summer and continuing through the fall, Kamloops Airport will be working on improving and expanding the public parking facilities. Be sure to check out the Kamloops Airport when you make plans for your next trip.

Kamloops Business Retention & Expansion Program

The economic well-being of our community is based upon our existing businesses. Most of a community's job growth and capital investment comes from companies already located there. Based on Blane, Canada Ltd.'s research, an urban/suburban community will average 76% of their growth from existing employers. In recognition of this, positive action is being taken to identify and meet the needs of these businesses. The community of Kamloops is sponsoring such an economic development program in co-operation with the support of Venture Kamloops.

The Kamloops Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program is a community-wide effort that emphasizes personal business visits as a way to identify the needs of our existing businesses. Specifically, the objectives of the program are to:

1. Identify the needs, concerns, and opportunities of existing local businesses in order that, where appropriate, local action can be taken to respond to the businesses' needs or development opportunities.

2. Learn of the future plans of the area's local businesses with respect to expansion, relocation and closure, to assess where assistance can be provided.

3. Demonstrate the community's pro-business attitude and develop an effective means of communication with local businesses.

4. Thank businesses for their contributions and have the community actively involved in economic development.

The Kamloops Business Survey will help indicate what the future plans/needs of local businesses are, what resources are necessary for businesses to be successful and how businesses view the community as a place to do business. The survey information will be used to help plan future economic development activities at Venture Kamloops, all information gathered is private and confidential. If your business would like to participate in this initiative, please contact Gregg Murray, BR&E Manager at gregg@venturekamloops.com or call 250-828-6818

Considering Doing Business Abroad?

If you are considering doing business abroad, be sure to review the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) website. DFAIT provides Canadian companies in the international marketplace with web-based resources for Doing Business Abroad. Access to services such as Trade offices, Market reports, and Global Value Chains are available by registering with the Virtual Trades Commissioner.

Considering exporting into the United States? Export USA broadcasts on their website Webinars presented by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service on a regular basis. Some of the topics highlighted are:

Looking for financial assistance? Listen to the CanadaExport podcasts " Learn these ways to make your pitch perfect", a following of the Dragon Den's audition room. Click here to listen or download the transcript for the lasted podcast or previous podcasts on other exporting topics.

CanadaExport also provides articles to assist in exporting such as the latest market intelligence and a trade events calendar. Visit www.international.gc.ca/canadexport for all your exporting questions.

Seeyouinbc.ca, BC Interior's Immigration Website

In 2008 Venture Kamloops partnered with Central Okanagan Economic Development and Initiatives Prince George to create a website to promote each of their cities for the immigration of skilled workers from around the world in support of the forecasted labour shortage.

The website provides information on living, working, and investing in each community with the intention to give potential skilled immigrants the resources they would need to make an informative decision as to whether the BC Interior and more specifically, the city of choice, would be the best for their relocation. Contact information is also provided for each community.

The home page for seeyouinbc.ca focuses only on immigration to Canada and includes a Frequently Asked Questions section to answers some of the most common questions. From the homepage, the visitor has the choice to view each of the communities.

Chat online with Venture Kamloops on ReLP

In May of this year Venture Kamloops launched a new initiative on our website, Real e Live People (ReLP). ReLP allows Venture Kamloops to take a proactive approach and initiate conversations with users or users on the web site have the opportunity to immediately start talking with a staff member by clicking the chat button.

This new software will let Venture Kamloops help our clients in real time, answering questions and assisting with the navigation through the web site. When a conversation begins a "MSN messenger" type window appears on the screen. Users will then get a live video of the Venture Kamloops staff who they are chatting with; which ensures the client that they are speaking with a live person in our office not a call center located in another city or country.

Companies across North America are using ReLP for everything from Car Dealerships to Doctors office. Venture Kamloops is the first economic development organization in Canada to use a Chat Initiation software. And the best part about ReLP, is that it is locally owned and operated right here in Kamloops. So far our staff have had conversations with people as far away as Germany and as close as right here in Kamloops. This new tool allows Venture Kamloops to provide Business Answers – Now.

Development Corner

As world economic jitters have slowed for new construction in most cities in Canada, Kamloops has maintained investor confidence. Development Services approved over $120 million in development permits during the first six months of this year, the busiest start the City of Kamloops has ever had. The yearly average for developments in the city is $180 million. The total development forecast has now been set at $225 million for 2010.

Here are a few of the most notable developments for the first half of 2010:

Check out major commercial and multi-family residential projects in Kamloops on our Community Development Projects webpage.

What is that building?

What is that new building going up on Summit Dr between the Fire Hall and Canadian Western Bank?

Venture Kamloops has had many inquiries about what this new building is. We have heard the rumours of everything from a mechanic shop to a Tim Horton’s. To put this rumour mill to rest, the building will be a new garage for the trucks at fire hall no.1 located adjacent to the property.

NRC’s Incentives Available for Energy Conservation

Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) ecoENERGY for Industry and ecoENERGY Retrofit initiatives are designed to improve industrial energy intensity and reduce energy-related industrial greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollution. These initiatives can help companies searching for innovative ways to cut costs and increase their competitiveness. Kamloops manufacturers are encouraged to explore these and other cost savings programs:

Companies can register as a CIPEC Leader, free of charge and join this select group of companies that are making energy efficiency a priority. Not only will your company's bottom line benefit, you will also contribute to a healthier environment and lend support to Canada's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution. More information can be found at www.cipec.gc.ca

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