Greater Victoria’s economic recovery plans received a major boost from Western Economic Diversification Canada this week. South Island Prosperity Partnership received a $100,000 grant from the federal agency to support the work of their Rising Economy Taskforce.
“We are grateful for the Government of Canada’s support for our region’s recovery efforts,” says Emilie de Rosenroll, CEO of SIPP and Chair of the Rising Economy Taskforce. “The proactive work being done by the Taskforce today will accelerate the pace of our economic recovery and help shape our region’s future as we become more diversified and resilient to withstand future disruptions.”
South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) is an alliance of 67 public and private-sector partners in Greater Victoria committed to growing and nurturing the region’s economic diversity and strength.
SIPP convened the Rising Economy Taskforce on April 16, 2020, to speed the pace of economic recovery in the South Island region.
Between now and November 2020, the multi-sector Taskforce will continue to establish recovery priorities for the South Island to support the region as it transitions from relief to recovery. It will also help coordinate recovery actions that build resilience, are designed to be inclusive and create partnerships to help the region build back better.
SIPP is one of seven B.C. organizations, and two Vancouver Island organizations to receive funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada to mitigate COVID-19’s devastating impact on the economy. The other Island-based organization is the Alacrity Foundation, who will use their $1.34 million dollar grant to assist western Canadian clean tech companies scale-up through increased international sales and investment during the pandemic recovery phase.
“As we move into the economic recovery phase, our key priority is to ensure strong growth for western-based SMEs throughout our many communities and sectors,” says Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Rising Economy Taskforce Vice-Chair Frank Bourree says the Taskforce’s inclusive and regional approach is important to the South Island’s recovery efforts.
“The Rising Economy Taskforce has an important wide lens on economic recovery for our entire region, across multiple sectors. ”That’s vital because we are a regional economy where collaboration is essential for our greater good.”
SIPP is planning a virtual information and learning event November 16 – 20. Titled Rising Economy Week, it will feature thought leaders, innovators and innovations, trend insights, economic forecasts, panel discussions and more, culminating in the release of the next phase of the multi-sector action plan for Vancouver Island. Get the details here: https://ourrisingeconomy.com/.
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