A North Okanagan politician is urging his colleagues to be broad-minded when it comes to economic development. Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman, expressed some concern Wednesday that a regional economic development function is being tied directly to an industrial land strategy, specifically manufacturing. “There’s a whole lot more to economic development than industry,” he said. “We’ve heard about child care and how that is impacting business. Economic development is also transportation. It is also the forest industry. Economic development in my neck of the woods (Armstrong) is agriculture.”
However, Vernon director Wayne Lippert said the goal is
not just manufacturing but to consider everything beyond tourism. “We have discussed forestry and agriculture.” The reason tourism is not on the table is because Enderby, Lumby, Armstrong and Spallumcheen already have tourism functions in their communities. But they want to join with Vernon and Coldstream to form a regional economic development function that targets industry. If that occurs, the Greater Vernon Services Committee’s existing economic development agency would be divided, with economic development going to NORD and tourism likely becoming a stand-alone function. Lippert hopes the matter can be resolved soon. “The intent is to move this ahead so it’s not getting stuck at GVSC,” he said.
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