Economic Development
Through the Board Strategic Plan and the Regional Growth Strategy, the RDN Board of Directors has emphasized the importance of sustainable economic development and local economic resilience to the long-term well-being of the Region.To deliver on these priorities, the Board established Economic Development as a regional service in November, 2011. The Economic Development Service is provided separately for the participating Southern RDN communities that make up School District 68: Electoral Areas A, B, and C; and the Northern RDN communities that make up School District 69: City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and Electoral Areas E, F, G and H.
The Northern Community Economic Development Service operates as a grant program, where the RDN Board contributes funding to eligible economic development initiatives that advance the Board's vision for a strong, thriving and creative local economy.
The Board of the Regional District of Nanaimo adopted the following motion on May 26, 2020:
That the Oceanside Services Committee not proceed with the distribution of funds through the Northern Community Economic
Development Service in 2020 due to the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following direction from the Board, the RDN has undertaken a review on the current state of economic development in the region with its economic development partners. On July 23, 2019, the RDN Board received a report entitled Update on Regional Economic Development Review, which is linked below.