Our blog

Food processors and beverage producers in Cowichan can look forward to more opportunities to innovate and grow their businesses with the announcement of a Cowichan Food Hub coming to the region. Cowichan Green Community (CGC) and Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) have partnered to secure up to $750,000 in funding from the Province of British Columbia’s Stronger BC economic recovery plan for the development of a food and innovation hub. CGC’s Garden Education Centre site on Beverly...

The new Launch Online Grant program is designed to help eligible small- and medium-sized BC businesses adapt to changes in consumer behaviour and pivot to market their products online. People have increased their reliance on online shopping with over $305 billion in e-commerce sales in Canada in 2019. E-commerce sales are projected to have doubled through 2020 and are expected to increase further in 2021. Launch Online provides funding to BC-based business to create an online shop and/or...

Update: A recording of this meeting can be found here: https://youtu.be/u3lGROLyzjU On Thursday February 4 at 6.30 pm, Economic Development Cowichan (EDC) will host a virtual town hall for Thetis Island community members to explore a last-mile (Internet) connectivity opportunity. In Canada, Broadband Internet is now classified as a basic telecommunications service, establishing universal speed targets of 50/10 Mbps download/upload to households and businesses.  Yet, 40.8% of rural communities...

Are you a tech or innovation company looking for some guidance to “level up” in 2021? The Tech Resiliency Program (TRP) can help. TRP is a no-cost, no-obligation program for qualified companies that connects you to Subject Matter Experts and Executives in Residence to help you maintain and grow operations, build resiliency, and prepare for a successful recovery or expansion in these trying times. Tech and innovation startups and established companies that are innovating with new...

Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA) has developed a unique online employment training opportunity. The Ag-Food Entrepreneur & Supervisor Training Program is targeted towards ag-food entrepreneurs looking to start a new business and those currently working in the ag-food industry who wish to advance into a supervisory role. Food and agriculture make up a significant portion of the regional economy in Cowichan, and demand for local food is growing. This program helps participants...

WorkBC has launched a new and improved Wage Subsidy that provides funding for eligible employers to subsidize wages for new hires and re-hires for up to 24 weeks. The WorkBC Wage Subsidy program is an opportunity for employers to re-hire laid off employees, hire new employees and connect with WorkBC clients looking for work experience and job opportunities. The new program allows employers to apply in two ways: either with an individual they have already identified for the position (such as a...

Community Futures Cowichan has partnered with Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Associations, and Tourism Cowichan to provide local businesses access to Wait Queue Management Solution, the most cost-effective and safest way for businesses to automate lineups during COVID-19. Wait Queue Management Solution by Kuusoft allows retailers, restaurants, and other businesses to create a virtual queue of customers waiting to enter their business. The web-based app updates waiting customers...