Economic Development Resources

NCRD communities are unique; each having its own history and ties to local resources. Due to the remote nature of these communities, the people in them have developed unique architecture, businesses, strong interpersonal relationships and economic models. The development in the NCRD is community-driven and reflects the development of the community cultures as they have grown and changed over time. As technology continues to grow and evolve, the northern islands are now well-connected to the mainland for goods services, education, and remote work opportunities.

Despite these improvements, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on tourism operators and small businesses everywhere. The NCRD is taking part in Northern Development Initiative Trust’s Economic Development Capacity Building Program in order to work collaboratively with local Economic Development organizations, business owners and other stakeholders to create a database of community-based economic development tools and make them available for communities to consider as we all recover and move forward in the post-pandemic economy.

Property Resources

Business Resources

  • Cooperative Conversion: 
    • According to the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), a co-operative is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise." Cooperatives are limited-liability entities funded and managed by members, who share in the risks and profits of the enterprise. New Cooperatives and cooperative conversions of existing businesses put the risks and benefits of obtaining goods and services in the hands of members who wish to obtain them. Conversions of small and medium enterprises in rural remote communities is gaining in popularity as more long-term business owners seek retirement- but may not have an interested buyer or successor to take on a business with meaning to the community.
  • NDIT Business Façade Improvement Program

Business Funding Resources

  • Community Futures: Pacific Northwest
    • ​​​​Community Futures provides services and program supports to entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium sized businesses. ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​Landlords’ & Renters’ Resources

Community Resources

  • This is Haida Gwaii
  • Grant-In-Aid
  • Community Works Funds Grant
  • Fabulous Festivals and Events
    • The Fabulous Festivals and Events program provides annual grant funding to support unique festivals and events throughout the region that contribute to service sector revenues in the local economy. The program supports festivals and events that promote Northern B.C. as a destination for tourism. Projects undertaken through this program aim to improve the sustainability and expansion of hosting capacity of festivals and events throughout the region, increase tourism revenues and improve community quality of life.