Economic Development Cowichan has created a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy for the Cowichan Region.

Click here to download the Strategy.

The Strategy contains eight broad goals:

Invest in Community

• Emphasize capacity building including business retention/expansion programs, skill development, social enterprises
• Develop a social financing program

Spark Innovation and Creativity

• Actively support clean technology
• Promote youth entrepreneurship
• Develop an arts and culture plan

Grow Agriculture Sector

• Improve and extend access to markets for local food
• Improve water management for agricultural purposes
• Implement the Area Agricultural Plan

Power Up Renewable Energy Sector

• Encourage local governments/businesses to promote clean, renewable energy
• Support the development of local renewable resources

Promote Smart/Low Impact Tourism

• Develop nature-based and marine tourism sectors and continue to support agri-tourism
• Adopt and implement the Regional Tourism Plan

Leverage Partnerships

• Network effectively with First Nations
• Facilitate better inclusion of youth
• Promote collaboration within the business community

Audit Capital Assets

• Develop current regional and sub-regional profiles
• Develop mapping/inventories (soil, agricultural capability, land air, water)

Lead the Way

• Create economic sustainability benchmarks
• Streamline systems
• Communicate and collaborate

The Economic Development Commission has been working to prioritize the goals and implement strategies out of the plan.