Economic recovery task force formed

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic recovery task force has been launched by Central Okanagan mayors and the Westbank First Nation.

The committee, co-chaired by Kelowna mayor Colin Basran and regional board chair Gail Given, will take action to support the immediate needs of local business and drive for full economic recovery in the Central Okanagan.

The task force is supported by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) and senior staff from participating jurisdictions. The Central Okanagan communities recognize they can combat economic impacts of COVID-19 more soundly as a group since businesses and the workforce move fluidly across the region.

The task force will first support action already underway through the COEDC to help businesses focus in the short term on maintaining public and work force health and by connecting businesses with resources to assist them through temporary business closures or reduced revenues.

“The COEDC has already established an Economic Response Action Team made up of key representatives from our local business community who will provide input on what the needs are across industries,” said Regional Board Chair Gail Given. “This is a critical first step in knowing what we can do to assist”.

The COEDC will lead the group to:

Keep local businesses informed and connected to provincial and federal programs

Establish evolving needs in the community as the pandemic shifts to recovery

Provide one to one guidance for struggling businesses

Advocate on behalf of the local business community to senior levels of government

Next, the task force will guide the development of an economic recovery plan which the COEDC and partners will implement over the next four to 18 months. The plan will leverage the broad industry expertise and be geared to re-energize the Central Okanagan economy, retain the business base and support employers and workers in getting people back to work as soon as possible.

“We’ve achieved significant economic success in the City of Kelowna and across the region but like economies worldwide, we’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Colin Basran. “The Economic Recovery Task Force will be providing guidance to make sure our businesses emerge from the pandemic stronger and ready to continue building on local success. With a solid strategy, we’ll know what economic stimuli are required. We’ll be able to act quickly and position ourselves for new economic opportunities like funding programs from senior governments. And we’ll be able to bounce back more quickly.”