Project Title:

Gabriola Island Economic Asset Mapping

Project Organization:

Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce

Project Investment:

  • Island Coastal Economic Trust: $14,760
  • Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation: $12,500
  • Gabriola Chamber of Commerce/People for a Healthy Community: $2,000
  • Total Budget: $29,260

Gabriola Island is a popular tourist destination, and in summer months the Island’s population of 4,200 nearly doubles. The Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce recognized that to capitalize on opportunities, there had to be a clear understanding of what economic development opportunities the Island offered.

This project builds economic capacity by determining the community’s economic assets, developing a local economic development network, and initiating the prioritization of economic initiatives. Through stakeholder consultations, the project maps economic assets – both physical as well as human, including residents’ skills and talents.

The finalized economic assets report forms part of a new website portal, located on the Chamber of Commerce website, with resources to assist in business attraction. Through this community-based process, economic information, insights and essential tools were compiled to assist Gabriola Island in identifying unique strengths, promoting economic resilience, business retention, diversification and growth.

Island Coastal Economic Trust funded this project on 2016 through the Investment Readiness program.