Urgent support for the region’s businesses affected by COVID-19 will soon be available through direct, one-on-one service delivery programs developed in collaboration with Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) and Innovation Island Technology Association (IITA).
With funding from ICET, two response programs have been set up with regional partners to help the tourism sector and other enterprises with rapid recovery in the face of economic and operational challenges.
TVI’s Vancouver Island Coastal Tourism Resiliency Project will provide tourism businesses with practical assistance as they navigate the current crisis, through to their eventual recovery, post-pandemic. The program includes two components:
- Tourism businesses will be paired with a Business Resiliency Specialist who, through a needs assessment consultation by phone, will facilitate customized support for each business that includes navigating available relief measures, resource links, answers to frequently asked questions and free appointments with program experts in finance, human resources, legal services and more. Program specialists will provide client care to each business through their entire journey to recovery.
- A digital resource hub, including regular webinars, information bulletins and additional resources.
To register for the program, tourism businesses on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast can visit the program website at www.victrp.ca or call the program Help Line at 1-855-722-9036. The program will begin with an introductory webinar on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. PST and participants can sign-up here.
IITA’s Digital Economy Response Program (DER3) will provide personalized technical and industry expertise to enterprises ready to adapt their business models to the digital economy.
IITA’s DER3 is a complementary rapid recovery initiative that will provide personalized services to companies ready to consider changes to their business models, adoption of digital tools and technology or other practices to better engage in the expanding digital economy. Participating businesses will be offered individualized advisory services including access to targeted tech sector expertise. The program will also create new opportunities for existing tech and digital solutions providers, strengthening and growing the region’s tech economy.
The program is expected to begin progressive implementation in early April. More program details, including how to access the service, will be communicated in the coming week.
About the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET)
Created and capitalized by the Province of BC in 2006, the Island Coastal Economic Trust’s (ICET) mission is to create a more diverse and globally competitive North Island-Sunshine Coast and Central-South Island economy. In partnership with local and regional government, non-profits and indigenous groups, ICET serves nearly half a million residents with a range of economic diversification funding programs and support services.
About Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI)
As one of the five regional not-for-profit destination management and marketing organizations within the province, Tourism Vancouver Island’s mission is to support Vancouver Island’s evolution into a globally preferred travel and getaway destination. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, and as the official representative of Destination British Columbia, the association represents tourism stakeholders throughout the region, including Vancouver Island, Victoria and the Gulf Islands, as well as a stretch of mainland coast between Moses and Bute inlets.
About Innovation Island Technology Association (IITA)
For the past 20 years, Innovation Island has been instrumental in fostering and encouraging growth in the regional technology sector; serving greater Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast. As a non-profit service provider we are partners in the BC Acceleration Network, proudly delivering Innovative BC’s Venture Acceleration Program and other services.
