Greater Nelson Economic Development

11/07/2025

Are you a business owner looking to connect with peers? Come and meet up with other entrepreneurs at the Business Breakfast Series this November. 🙌

The Business Breakfast Series is an opportunity for business owners to chat about successes and challenges, share ideas and pieces of advice, as well as learn about rebates and funding opportunities 👀 And that all around a delicious complimentary breakfast ☕️

The second edition of the Business Breakfast Series will take place at the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Boardroom over three days between November 10 and 13, 2025. Each day will be dedicated to specific sectors:

🥐 Monday, November 10, 8:30-10am: Food & Beverage and Accommodation
🥐 Wednesday, November 12, 8:30-10am: Retail, Office and Professional Services
🥐 Thursday, November 13, 8:30-10am: Manufacturing, Industry and Construction

Register for the Business Breakfast Series at https://www.discovernelson.com/news/business-breakfast-energy-efficiency-2/

11/05/2025

Cannabis has long been part of Nelson’s identity, shaping our economy, culture and our community.

In this reel, Walker Patton, Chief Commercial Officer at .ca , shares how the region’s world-class growers are coming together to elevate the craft, improve quality standards and shine a global spotlight on the Kootenays’ legacy.

“To say that cannabis in the Kootenays has the potential to be like the Champagne of France is no exaggeration.”

Woody Nelson’s vertical farm and processing hub are helping local cultivators bring their products to market, honouring decades of passion, innovation and community.

Watch now to hear Walker’s thoughts on the power of collaboration and why the future of cannabis is rooted right here in the Kootenays.

Learn more at www.woodynelson.ca.

11/04/2025

Every business has a story, and together, those stories paint the bigger picture of how our local economy is really doing.

On October 17, 2025, the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Greater Nelson Economic Development, hit the streets for our annual Business Walk. They were joined by representatives from Community Futures Central Kootenay, Kootenay Career Development Society, the City of Nelson, and local elected officials. They visited businesses across the community to take the pulse of our economy, one conversation at a time.

“The Business Walk isn’t just about collecting data - it’s about turning feedback into advocacy and collaboration,” says Tom Thomson, Executive Director of the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce. “The information gathered will inform the Chamber’s conversations with local and regional governments and help guide economic development priorities for the coming year.”

This year’s Business Walk showed that most businesses in Greater Nelson are holding steady, even in the face of rising costs and unpredictable economic conditions. Sixty per cent of respondents described their year as “fairly good” or “steady,” while another 35 per cent said business has been “good.” That’s encouraging news. It reflects the resilience, creativity, and determination that define our local entrepreneurs despite the challenges businesses are faced with every day.

If you own a small business in the Nelson area and haven’t had a chance to yet, we invite you to make your voice heard by participating in our survey. Your input is invaluable to help drive Greater Nelson’s economy forward 🚀

Fill out the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KVNDRQN

You can also learn more by reading Tom’s article in the Nelson Star by googling “NEWS AND VIEWS: Turning conversations into advocacy, action with annual Business Walk”

10/30/2025

Coming up on Saturday, November 8!

Discover 60+ local vendors from across the Columbia Basin at the Basin Food Public Market!

On Saturday, November 8, you can sip, sample and shop your way through regional flavours and meet the incredible producers and makers you won’t find at your regular farmers market.

Here’s what’s on:
🍎 Farm-fresh produce, preserves & pantry staples
🍞 Bakers, brewers, distillers & artisan makers
🍰 The Local Is Sweet Dessert Showcase

And while you’re there, step into the Bite-Sized: Short Films Showcase (11:00am–12:50pm): a free screening celebrating food, culture and community through powerful short food-related films. 🎬

It’s free admission for this family-friendly celebration of local food and creativity! Just bring your tote bag to take all your goodies home.

Learn more → https://basinfood.ca/bite-sized-a-short-films-showcase/

Columbia Basin Trust is a proud annual sponsor of the Basin Food Summit & Expo & Basin Food Film Festival, demonstrating its strong commitment to regional food systems.

10/24/2025

If your business wasn’t visited during the Business Walk last week, you can still share your feedback by completing the Nelson Business Walk Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KVNDRQN

Last Friday, the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce – alongside Community Futures Central Kootenay, Kootenay Career Development Society, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, local officials, and City staff – hit the streets to connect directly with Nelson’s business community. The goal? To get a real-time snapshot of how local businesses are doing in these unpredictable times.

If we missed you during the Business Walk, there’s still time to have your say! Nelson and area business owners are invited to complete a short survey to let the Chamber know how your business is doing and what kinds of support you’re interested in.

🔗 Take the survey → https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KVNDRQN

10/23/2025

Building a sustainable, dynamic and resilient economy in Greater Nelson cannot be done without supporting local food businesses 👩‍🌾. And software-based tool Grow and Connect Interior is doing just that. 💪

Developed in the Kootenay region, the Grow and Connect digital platform brings farmers, food organizations, carriers, retailers and other food system actors together and simplifies communications and delivery options. The platform shows what food needs to be transported, routes carriers are taking, and a user directory so you can easily find and reach the right people. When communication and delivery are easier, local food can get where it needs to go, quickly and reliably.

Soon, the software will be equipped with a communications tool so that users can establish communication networks and coordinate more easily, simplifying the local food distribution process even further.

Keeping the food supply chain local not only helps solidify Greater Nelson’s economy, it also strengthens food resilience for all those who live in the region, and lowers everyone’s carbon footprint. It’s a win-win-win. 🙌

Learn more about Grow & Connect Interior at www.growandconnect.ca.

10/21/2025

Are you an employer in the West Kootenay looking to hire? We have three tips for you:

1️⃣ Be intentional about the development of the position.
2️⃣ Know your audience…where and how do the right candidates look for jobs?
3️⃣ Before interviewing, identify what learning curves are tolerable for your business so you can make confident hiring decisions.

These insights come from Mia Gardiner, consultant for the West Kootenay Recruitment Agency Pilot, a new regional initiative designed to make hiring easier for local employers.

The pilot supports economic development by helping employers attract and retain the skilled staff they need to power their businesses forward.

Here’s how it works:
🌱Employers are the agency’s primary clients. The team helps define roles, post jobs and proactively source qualified candidates.
🌱Job seekers can submit resumes and be matched with future opportunities that align with their skills and experience.

In short, it’s recruitment for the Kootenays, by the Kootenays - connecting businesses with the people who can help them thrive.

To learn more about recruitment and the services provided through the pilot, visit www.kootenayrecruitment.ca.

The pilot is proudly sponsored by Greater Nelson Economic Development, Community Futures Central Kootenay, Kootenay Career Development Society, Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society, Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures South Kootenay, Kootenay Employment Services, Destination Castlegar, Selkirk Innovates & Castlegar & District Chamber.

10/16/2025

Meet our partner: Community Futures Central Kootenay!

They’ve been part of Greater Nelson Economic Development since its inception 20 years ago, helping small businesses start, grow and thrive across our region.

Their mission? To help businesses be successful and communities to be economically healthy, and they do that by offering business advising, loans, training, events and workshops that empower entrepreneurs and contribute to community economic development.

From delivering key projects and strategies to providing the data, research and insights that inform local priorities, brings a vital perspective and a spirit of collaboration to the partnership.

As Executive Director Andrea Wilkey and Chair of the Board, Am Naqvi, share in this reel, Greater Nelson Economic Development works so well because it’s built on trust, support and shared goals.

By pooling resources and expertise, the four partner organizations (CFCK, .nelson, and E and F) are all rowing in the same direction to support local business and economic growth.

Learn more about CFCK here → www.futures.bc.ca

10/14/2025

Calling Nelson homeowners! 📣If you have a vacant house, or some extra space in your current residence, consider renting it with Happipad. 🏡

Happipad is an online platform with a mission to facilitate the traditional rental experience and alleviate the challenges of the ongoing housing crises. The nonprofit organization is based in Kelowna but operates throughout Canada, from Halifax to Ottawa and in Nelson ✨

Through Happipad, you can list your properties or rooms for rent simply and securely. Happipad conducts rigorous background checks on renters, handles all the legal documentation and payments and carries out proactive conflict resolution. Happipad protects you and your house every step of the way.

Registering on Happipad allows you to monetize an empty property or room without all the pitfalls of the conventional renting process 🙌. It’s especially perfect for people who have just moved to the area, have moved here for the ski season or looking for medium-term rentals (one to 12 months), filling in the gap between short-term vacation rentals and longer leases.

Here’s how to register:

1️⃣ Visit happipad.com/
2️⃣ Click the ‘Sign Up’ button, enter your email address and create a password
3️⃣ Select ‘Register as Host - List a Property’
4️⃣ Enter your details
5️⃣ Click ‘Agree and Sign Up’. You will receive a verification email in your inbox
6️⃣ Once verified, you can create your listing

Learn more and register here today → https://happipad.com/hosts/

10/09/2025

Calling all local contractors, builders and energy advisors! 🚨 The Community Energy Association has upcoming webinars and workshops for you – all free! These will help you stay up to date on all things energy efficiency and allow you to acquire the skills necessary to complete work covered by energy rebate programs 💪

Here’s a list of the Community Energy Association webinars and in-person workshops happening in October and November. Don’t miss out!

🏡 October 16, 2025, online – Stop Guessing and Start Using F280-12
👉 Learn how to compile the right data for correct F280-12 heat load calculations in retrofit and new builds.
Sign up here → https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/stop-guessing-and-start-using-f280-12-tickets-1435725105439

🏡 October 28, 2025, in Castlegar – From Plans to Performance: Integrated Design for High-Performance Homes
👉 Learn how the integrated design process (IDP) simplifies decisions, prevents costly mistakes and guarantees efficiency in both retrofits and new builds.
Sign up here → https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/from-plans-to-performance-integrated-design-for-high-performance-homes-registration-1612312312529

🏡 November 13, 2025, online – Let’s Talk Windows & Doors
👉 Learn what kind of fenestration products you need to look for to ensure compliance.
Sign up here → https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lets-talk-windows-doors-tickets-1568274614589

🏡November 20, 2025, online – How to Interpret F280-12 Calculations
👉 Learn how to read F280-12 reports, preventing common errors and ensuring correct equipment selection.
Sign up here → https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/how-to-interpret-f280-12-calculations-tickets-1438633283879

10/07/2025

Meet our partner: the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce ()!

The Chamber has been part of Greater Nelson Economic Development since 2005, bringing the voice of local business to the table.

From workforce housing and sector development to shop-local campaigns and Business After Business events, the Chamber plays a vital role in supporting businesses of all sizes and strengthening our local economy.

Board President Rebeckah Hornung and Executive Director Tom Thomson share how working together through Greater Nelson Economic Development amplifies our impact and keeps Greater Nelson thriving.

10/06/2025

Say hello to Sydney Black, Executive Director of the Nelson & District Arts Council and West Kootenay Representative on the Board of Directors for Arts BC. 👋 She contributes her expertise of the local cultural and creative sectors, her extensive policy knowledge and her vast non-profit experience as a member of our advisory committee!

“I am privileged to have the opportunity to make sure arts, culture and heritage are integrated into regional economic planning, not treated as nice-to-have add-ons,” she explains.

One of our strategic priorities for 2025 is to back the local arts and culture sectors and Sydney is the authority we need to guide our hand in this task. Her position as the Chair of the Cultural Development Committee for the City of Nelson, as well as her experience as the owner of a production company, equips her with valuable knowledge of the local cultural ecosystem, from both a governmental and private perspective.

“When we plan for arts and culture alongside housing, transportation and workforce, we get stronger businesses, more reasons to visit (and stay), and a community that feels like home for more people,” she says.

Besides advocating for arts and culture, her favourite things about the advisory committee are the array of voices present around the table, and the members’ determination to achieve results 💪

“I really enjoy the cross-sector problem-solving,” she says. “Greater Nelson Ec Dev brings the right people to the table, aligns resources and uses research to drive action, supporting small businesses, non profits, workers and employers.”

We appreciate you, Sydney! Learn more about what we do at www.greaternelsonecdev.com/about-us