All Funded Projects

Uchucklesaht Economic Development Strategic Plan

The Uchucklesaht Tribe has two villages that are situated approximately 24 miles down the Barkley Sound, southwest from Port Alberni.

Overview

The Uchucklesaht Tribe, comprised of approximately 300 members mostly living within the City of Port Alberni, has not had an economic development strategy since 2012.

The Nation’s current economic state and business and community interests are primarily based on fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, residential real estate, and freshwater bottled beverage products.

To create a new plan that better reflects current needs, a comprehensive, community-led planning project will be prepared.

This plan will examine opportunities in tourism, value-added wood biomass, seafood processing, craft retailing, and rental housing, as well as explore new product lines for existing food and beverage activities, among other prospective opportunities.

This strategic planning exercise will include business environment scans for known areas of economic interest, extensive research into emerging sectors, and a comprehensive toolkit of current and future activities and investments.

Project Details

Lead Organization Uchucklesaht Tribe Government
Sub-Region West Coast-Pacific Rim
Year Approved 2023
Funding Program Investment Readiness
Investment Priority Entrepreneurs and Local Businesses
Trust Investment $30,000
Total Budget $70,000

Project Impact

The Trust invests in projects using a Wellbeing Impact Framework that looks beyond traditional economic metrics. This approach evaluates how each investment strengthens economic prosperity, cultural vitality, climate resilience, and social empowerment. By focusing on outcomes that matter to people and place, the Trust works to spur new investments that create meaningful, lasting benefits across Vancouver Island and the coast.