Focus on Urban Growth Strategy

As published in the Summerland Review, April 25, 2013

“Summerland captures the essence of the Okanagan with an abundance of historical, cultural, recreational and agricultural experiences.  Meandering roads with views of brilliant blue water, lush orchards and vineyards entice visitors to stop and sample the local fare.  The charming town centre, anchored by Giant’s Head Mountain, offers an opportunity to share in the genuine allure of the community.  A true patchwork of activities and vistas, Summerland is the local’s pick for an authentic Okanagan experience.”

In the recent tourism branding project conducted by the Summerland Chamber, this is the positioning statement that fifteen community stakeholder organizations unanimously agreed best represented our community to the world.

However, our community is not ‘just a pretty face’.  It is underpinned by a thoughtful local government that engages with and listens to its citizens.

Right now the District of Summerland is working to create an even better community by initiating a review of the Urban Growth Strategy.  Changes in the community in recent years, new climate action commitments, and an updated zoning bylaw make this the right time to ask pertinent questions such as: Where are we going to locate future growth in the District of Summerland?   What do we want this growth to look like and how will it stimulate economic growth?

Housing costs, local jobs, sustainable agriculture, community services and infrastructure, as well as climate action are some of the issues affected by the choices Summerland residents will make about where and how to grow as a community.

This 6-month Urban Growth Strategy process has just begun.  Citizens who attended the focus group meetings held on April 18 & 20 noted that there was consensus within the workshops around the concepts of utilizing existing infrastructure effectively, building a sustainable community, retaining our small town characteristics and livability and increasing our access to trails and recreational opportunities.

One local developer who attended commented that Summerland’s newly rewritten zoning bylaws are among the most progressive in BC and have earned respect for District staff through their intentional creation of plans that work.  He also predicted that Summerland would see increased development very soon as a result of these changes.

An example of welcome new development is the mixed use building soon to break ground on Wharton Street in Summerland.  This downtown commercial and residential property will build on our goals for downtown livability and will contribute to increased vitality in local shops and services.

The recently approved expansion to the Bentley Road Industrial Park is another example of good planning.  This 7.2 hectare expansion will double the size of the existing industrial park and it is in an excellent location on the north end of Summerland with direct access to highway 97.

Here in Summerland we have every reason to be pleased with this community enhancing and business friendly progress.  Remember to go to www.futuresummerland.com to complete the citizen survey and add your voice to the process.

We always appreciate your feedback.  Please contact me at president@summerlandchamber.com or Christine Petkau at manager@summerlandchamber.com.

Economic Development on Two Wheels

As published in the April 4, 2013 edition of The Summerland Review

Last month I wrote about the economic benefits that can come to our community via shopping local and how the availability of industrial land makes it possible for businesses to expand and move to Summerland.

This month I’d like to turn the spotlight on a different kind of economic benefit – the kind that comes from enhanced recreational opportunities in our region.  At the Visitor Centre we see requests regularly for information about biking and hiking trails.  A study released in February by the US Outdoor Industry Association states that the outdoor recreation industry is an overlooked economic giant and that Americans spend twice as much on it than they do on cars or pharmaceuticals – $646 billion to be exact.

Here in the South Okanagan we have the opportunity right now to create a world class biking pathway to rival tourism destinations in Europe or the United States.  Groups throughout our region have been working on this pathway for some time and are on track to complete this project.

Building on existing infrastructure the Okanagan Lakeside Multiuse Pathway Project will allow bicyclists to travel from Osoyoos all the way to Kelowna on trails connected from existing Okanagan River pathways, old rail spur lines, existing pathways in Peachland and West Kelowna and the Trans Canada Trail.  The Trans Canada Trail Committee and Trails BC intend to fill in the gaps in these trails by 2016.

Interestingly, two key gaps are in Summerland – the stretch between lower town and Illahie Beach and the lakeside between Sun-Oka Park and Penticton.  The Rotary Club of Summerland is spearheading the efforts to close these gaps and the necessary experts in engineering, environment, etc. have identified cost effective ways to create these paths.  The first stretch can be completed this year with the Sun-Oka to Penticton portion completed next year.

I see that as a Craigellachie moment.  History proved there that joining Eastern and Western Canada via rail was good for the economy.  Closing the loop in the Okanagan will be good for our economy.  Portions of the trail will go right through downtown Summerland on Victoria Road.  In Germany where the world famous Lake Constance bike route is located, 400,000 bikers each year use the trail.  More importantly, the trail can be used from March into November, giving our region a huge boost in the shoulder seasons.

Much of the information here has been provided by Don Gemmell from the Summerland Rotary Club. He states, “as this project achieves its potential, it will energize our hospitality industry, boost wine tourism and provide us all with world class recreational opportunities”.

Evidently economic development takes many different forms.   There is a part for all of us to play in improving the economic climate of our town.  This project involves two regional districts and at least six Okanagan communities.  Let’s support it.

We always appreciate your feedback.  Please contact me at manager@summerlandchamber.com or our Chamber President, Arlene Fenrich, at president@summerlandchamber.com.

Christine

Economic Development ideas for Summerland

As published in the Summerland Review March 7, 2013

In February, Chamber of Commerce staff attended two economic development workshops.  One, held in Vancouver on February 13-14, was the first Local Economy Summit presented by B.C.’s Ten Percent Shift Campaign.  This grass roots campaign started in 2010 and is gaining momentum in many communities with the message that if consumers shifted just 10% of their spending to locally owned businesses , (as opposed to big box, foreign owned or on-line businesses) it would make a significant difference in our local economy.

Using media purchases as an example of a retail item we buy, research shows that when a person buys $100 worth of products on-line, none of that money is retained in the community.  When they buy the same product from a large chain with a local presence, $43 stays and circulates in the community.  When the same $100 purchase is made at a locally owned small business, $68 stays in the community via wages and other professional services purchased by that business.  That’s pretty significant.

The Ten Percent Shift idea recognizes that it may not be practical to shift all our spending to local businesses and in fact, a local option may not exist for every item.  But by shifting as little as 10% of our buying, millions of dollars would be re-directed to our local economy.  When it comes to economic development we may feel that there isn’t much that we can do as individuals.  But this is an idea which we can all practice beginning today.  Give some thought to where you can buy what you need and want right here in Summerland.

The second workshop was held on February 25^th in Kamloops.  This session was ‘Economic Development Essentials for Local Leaders’ geared to rural communities and presented by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.

Business retention and expansion was the focus of this workshop with many longer term ideas of what communities need to do to attract new business and provide for the expansion of existing companies.  A key element of this concept is the availability of industrial land for development.  The development of industrial land has a direct economic benefit to the community through positive tax revenues and also contributes extensively to job creation.  Additionally, for every 100 jobs created in manufacturing, many more jobs are created to support them.  These other jobs are in retail, hospitality, auto services, and health, financial and business services.

Here in Summerland a lack of industrial land for building and expansion was identified in the Okanagan industrial land inventory in 2008.  This need may be met in part by the development of the new Bentley Road Industrial Park which the District of Summerland has been working on for a number of years.  The 7.2 hectares of land that has been identified adjacent to the existing industrial park will be a significant expansion.  This development plan timeline is on target and the Chamber and other business partners will support the District in the marketing of this new industrial park.

Evidently economic development takes many different forms.   I’ve only touched on two here. There is a part for all of us to play in improving the economic climate of our town.

We always appreciate your feedback.  Please contact me at manager@summerlandchamber.com or our Chamber President, Arlene Fenrich, at president@summerlandchamber.com .

Christine Petkau

2013 AGM

The Summerland Chamber of Economic Development and Tourism’s Annual General Meeting was held March 12th, 2013. The Chamber would like to thank  Summerland Seniors Village for hosting the AGM.

Thank you to all of our members who attended the AGM and voted.  Thor Clausen, Connie Denesiuk, Arlene Fenrich and Maged Said were sworn in by Mayor Janice Perrino as directors of the 2013 Chamber board. They will all serve two year terms. Board members with one year remaining on their terms are Jason Embree, Darin Fair and Christine Coletta (Christine will serve the remainder of Brett Dewitt’s term).

At the board meeting March 14, the board voted on the new executive:

• Chamber President: Arlene Fenrich
• Vice President: Jason Embree
• Treasurer: Maged Said

Thank you to our AGM Guest Speaker, Candace Nancke, FCGA, Chair of the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia.

Mini Trade Show: Thank you to the following local business service providers who attended the AGM to share information with Chamber Members:

• Paul Wiedemann, Ministry of Finance
• Don Brown of Brown Benefits, Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan
• Su Baker, Community Futures Economic Gardening Program
• Wilfred Barranoik,  Westrand Consulting Group
• Edward Jones Financial Advisors Chantelle Meriam and
  Timothy Broesch
• Jodi Ennis, YMCA WorkBC Employment Services
• Juanita Gibney, Source Graphics and Print Company

FROM THE DESK OF…

Without a doubt, spring has sprung in terms of projects and activities. Your Summerland Chamber has been busy planning, implementing and working out details for projects and events that are coming up this spring and summer.

On Tuesday April 3, the chamber luncheon will be held at the new VP Grill at the Summerland Golf and Country Club (this is where Vanilla Pod has moved to!). Our speakers are our members sharing “good news” stories about businesses that are expanding and developing in Summerland. You will hear from Christa-Lee McWatters-Bond from Local Liquor Market, Wilfred Barranoik from Westrand Consulting and Ron Restrick from Kettle Valley Steam Railway. We welcome luncheon guests to share their stories as well. Tickets are $25 and are available at the chamber.

Your chamber will be hosting the 2nd Annual Be Green ~ Buy Local Business Expo on Saturday, April 21st at the IOOF Hall on Main Street. The premise is whenever we think local business first, we are in fact, being green. So, when you need to get your car serviced, your spring planting materials, add on the house, build that deck, buy your groceries, we are asking you to Be Green and think local first.

On Saturday April 14th, your Summerland Chamber is teaching WorldHost for our members. Check out the link and web page for more information. As I’ve said before, if your business has customers you should attend. There is something for everyone to learn.

Our Visitor Centre received a wonderful surprise in the form of a $7,500 grant from Tourism BC. This allows us to purchase some much-needed items such as a camera, signage at the Visitor Centre, a laptop computer to run video at our mobile Visitor Centers as well as regular office supplies. Finally the broken chairs can be replaced! Excellent news.

We are still waiting for news about our Canada Summer Jobs grant and are hopeful that all 3 positions will be funded including a new coordinator for the Friday Night Markets. We should know within the next few weeks.

Planning for the Valley Wide Business After Business on May 10, 2012 is well under way. Summerland is hosting this year and we are working with Summerland Waterfront Resort and Spa and the Local Lounge • Grille to host this event that draws over 500 people. Think of it as a Business After Business gone wild!

As always, we welcome your comments, thoughts and input. I can be reached at lisa.jaager@shawbiz.ca or at 250-494-2686.

Talk soon, Lisa

Figure Out What You Want

For the past few weeks, I’ve used this platform to encourage our members to create a vision, mission and annual plan for their business. We know it is vitally important business is prepared to succeed and to clearly articulate what success looks like.

So, if you know me, you’ll know that I am not a big fan of navel-gazing and self-awareness exercises. Frankly, they feel a little awkward. But, I was flipping through my mother-in-law’s Oprah magazine and came across an article written by Martha Beck that truly resonated with me.

“I don’t blame us for clamming up. I understand the buzzkill. Complaining is easy, even fun, compared with the challenge of creating a plan for positive change. … I gained huge respect for anyone who pushes beyond kvetching and into clarity.

These days, as a coach, I see a similar dynamic play out for my clients. They complain in rich detail about the things that are wrong with their lives: demanding children, overbearing bosses, the bafflingly low sales of their topiary sculptures. But when it comes to specifying the fix, people haul out their broadest brushes. “I just want love,” they say. “Passion.” “Inner peace.” It’s like telling a waiter, “Bring me something delicious. I have no idea what, but I’ll know it when I taste it.” No order that fuzzy is likely to produce a satisfying result.

Here’s the truth: People who get what they want tend to be the ones who make the effort to know what they want.” Martha Beck

So this leads to the question: What do you want in 2012? Make an obtainable plan to achieve it.

Write it down, keep it available. Do not put it in a file or on the shelf. Keep your goals and plans handy so you can refer back and be reminded. At the end of the month, quarter or year, evaluate yourself. Did you meet your goals?

And, plan to attend the Economic Development Public Forum on February 15 at the IOOF Hall on Main Street at 6pm.

Cheers, Lisa

 

To read more from Martha Beck: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/How-to-Figure-Out-What-You-Want-in-Life#ixzz1lLGG1p7t

Ideas are a dime a dozen but…

Over the past several weeks we’ve been working on our annual plan. This is the document that sets goals, objectives and tactics for the year and guides the day-to-day work of the chamber. It is important to note here that a good plan is always open to change or adaption as the year progresses.

Part of the annual plan process is to talk with our members and colleagues, gather ideas, do research and develop a plan that reflects the current and future needs of business in Summerland.

A key component of any plan is the ideas. I understand, and agree, that ideas are a dime a dozen and what we need is follow-through BUT from the ideas comes the next idea which could be the ONE: the idea that evolves to be the pivotal piece of your plan.

Do not throw out your wild and wacky ideas. Embrace them, talk about them, tweak and trim them until you reach THE idea that is the right one for your business and then follow it through to completion. As with the mission and vision statements, I encourage you to write down your ideas and make plans from them. See which ones will fly and be prepared there will be many that flop! It is all part of the process.

Here are some links and phrases that are making sense to me right now. Not every idea is gold however, there is value in looking to the ideas for inspiration. You just never know when you will find the ONE.

Call me with your ideas!

Cheers, Lisa

There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. Norman Peale

Main Street Retailers’ Economic Development Tools
Good Omens From Granny