The Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association (BVEDA) helps to build a resilient community with a shared vision of economic development. The BVEDA area encompasses the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako Area ‘A’ (RDBN), the Town of Smithers and the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en. These three groups make up the BVEDA’s three signatories.
The Town of Smithers Investment Ready Community Profile provides detailed information on demographics, labour force, payroll costs, higher education, transportation, industrial/commercial land use, business support services, government, international resources, utilities, housing, taxation, and quality of life.
Mission
The mission of the Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association is to support entrepreneurs, businesses, organizations, and individuals who wish to conduct business in the Bulkley Valley in a socially responsible way. The BVEDA will assist these groups by offering programs and services designed to assist in the success of their endeavours.
Organizational Values and Principles:
- Support expansion and retention of business within the Bulkley Valley
- Use entrepreneurship as the driving force behind economic development
- Promote socially responsible and sustainable investment
- Actively seek partnerships in all service areas
- Promote the Bulkley Valley as a desirable place to invest and live
- Shared economic success for all communities in the region
Vision
The Bulkley Valley Economic Development Association (BVEDA) is helping to build a resilient community with a shared vision of acceptable economic development amongst all three signatories and their constituents in the Bulkley Valley and the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en. We do this by supporting wealth-creating activities that are consistent with local values and interests.
Through our partnerships and positive working relationships, we are striving to be recognized as an economic development leader by governments, non-government organizations, industry, business, community groups and residents. Programs and assistance will be available throughout the region with the aim of benefitting the entire area. We have stable long-term operational funding and we will target gaps in current services to avoid overlap with other local and regional agencies.
The BVEDA will operate as a legal entity governed by a board of directors appointed by and accountable to the signatories. The board’s primary role will be to develop policy and oversight for the economic development function under the direction of a strategic plan. We will strive to minimize political interference and seek out larger regional initiatives.