By Richard RolkeNov 10 2006
http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
North Okanagan officials are scrambling to land a manufacturer and its 400 jobs, but the land crunch is creating significant challenges. An unnamed company is currently scouting around the
Okanagan for 20 acres of serviced industrial land for an operation. “It shows the region is on the radar screen,” said Dave Forai, Greater Vernon economic development manager, adding the company would pump $30 million annually into the economy. However, there aren’t 20 acres in Greater Vernon suitable, so the search is on through the rest of the North Okanagan. Lumby Mayor Eric Foster hopes to possibly bring the company to the village for a tour. “We’re not going to let this slide by,” he said. “The land is there and for sale, it has water and we just need to put the sewage lift station in. It’s zoned and the railway tracks go right up to it.” Forai admits the shortage of industrial land could force this company to go elsewhere as has occurred with other possible investors. “I’m getting tired of phone calls of businesses coming in and we can’t supply it.” In the long-term, it appears like the North Okanagan
is moving towards addressing the industrial land shortage through a regional economic development function. On Wednesday, Spallumcheen made a pitch for $1.5 million in NORD gas tax revenue to develop an industrial park in thesoutheast sector of the township. “Spallumcheen, alone, can’t do it,” said Mayor Will Hansma. “In Spallumcheen, we’ve got the land for regional industrial growth. We’ve got the transportation to get products to market but we don’t have the water and sewer.” He added that the money would be used to get the project started but the developer would pay back the funds. Hansma urged NORD to do an analysis of the infrastructure required for such an industrial park and the money needed. “We need to provide for the generations down the road,” he said of employment opportunities. The $2.5 million in gas revenue money is supposed to go towards regionally significant projects. Many jurisdictions are reluctant to give it all to Spallumcheen. “None of us dispute the need for industry but there’s other things other communities would like considered,” said Jerry Oglow, Armstrong director. Among them has been a regional growth strategy and expanding transit. In the end, directors instructed staff to bring back a report on Spallumcheen’s proposal and to refer the matter to the City of Vernon and the Greater Vernon Services Commission because of sewer and water issues.
North Okanagan officials are scrambling to land a manufacturer and its 400 jobs, but the land crunch is creating significant challenges. An unnamed company is currently scouting around the
Okanagan for 20 acres of serviced industrial land for an operation. “It shows the region is on the radar screen,” said Dave Forai, Greater Vernon economic development manager, adding the company would pump $30 million annually into the economy. However, there aren’t 20 acres in Greater Vernon suitable, so the search is on through the rest of the North Okanagan. Lumby Mayor Eric Foster hopes to possibly bring the company to the village for a tour. “We’re not going to let this slide by,” he said. “The land is there and for sale, it has water and we just need to put the sewage lift station in. It’s zoned and the railway tracks go right up to it.” Forai admits the shortage of industrial land could force this company to go elsewhere as has occurred with other possible investors. “I’m getting tired of phone calls of businesses coming in and we can’t supply it.” In the long-term, it appears like the North Okanagan
is moving towards addressing the industrial land shortage through a regional economic development function. On Wednesday, Spallumcheen made a pitch for $1.5 million in NORD gas tax revenue to develop an industrial park in thesoutheast sector of the township. “Spallumcheen, alone, can’t do it,” said Mayor Will Hansma. “In Spallumcheen, we’ve got the land for regional industrial growth. We’ve got the transportation to get products to market but we don’t have the water and sewer.” He added that the money would be used to get the project started but the developer would pay back the funds. Hansma urged NORD to do an analysis of the infrastructure required for such an industrial park and the money needed. “We need to provide for the generations down the road,” he said of employment opportunities. The $2.5 million in gas revenue money is supposed to go towards regionally significant projects. Many jurisdictions are reluctant to give it all to Spallumcheen. “None of us dispute the need for industry but there’s other things other communities would like considered,” said Jerry Oglow, Armstrong director. Among them has been a regional growth strategy and expanding transit. In the end, directors instructed staff to bring back a report on Spallumcheen’s proposal and to refer the matter to the City of Vernon and the Greater Vernon Services Commission because of sewer and water issues. 
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