Innovation is alive and thriving in northern BC as evidenced by the turn out at the first-time Northern Innovation Bootcamps. Over sixty participants attended a one-day workshop session held in the communities of Fort St. John, Prince George and Terrace from November 1st to 3rd, 2011. The session was designed for entrepreneurs with a great idea who need to know the resources and support available to take their idea from concept to commercialization.

The communities of northwest British Columbia are combining their efforts to spur development and attract new investment with the launch of ‘Invest Northwest BC’ – www.investnorthwestbc.ca. ‘Invest Northwest BC’ provides detailed information on over $15 billion dollars of major projects and investment opportunities planned in the region.

The Northern Development Initiative Trust Board has approved a concept proposed by the City of Prince George for a new and aggressive incentive program aimed at encouraging housing and commercial development in the City’s downtown. This bold and innovative new program will be focused on providing an immediate financial incentive for developers that is significantly more attractive than existing Downtown Revitalization Tax Exemption programs currently available.

A spokesman for the Lakes District Film Society, the non-profit organization that purchased the Beacon Theatre in August, confirmed today that the local cinema will be installing a new digital projector and sound system this month.

“We’ve contracted The ProjecTech Group of Calgary, Alberta to convert the Beacon Theatre to digital projection,” Michael Riis-Christianson, president of the society, said today. “When the work is completed, the Beacon Theatre will be one of the smallest cinemas in British Columbia to be equipped with digital projection and 3D technology. With this equipment, we’ll be able to offer local residents a wider range of programming options – everything from feature films to productions supplied only in digital format.”

The Board of Directors of the Northern Development Initiative Trust are pleased to announce Northern Development as a local government funding partner for eligible Towns for Tomorrow projects.

Northern Development Initiative Trust is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Derek Baker for the position of Economic Development Officer for the Prince Rupert and Port Edward Economic Development Commission as well as Evan van Dyk for the position of Economic Development Officer for the Terrace Economic Development Authority.

PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Northern Development’s popular Grant Writing Support program is already fully subscribed for the 2010 year. “The Grant Writing Support program ensures that communities and First Nations will be able to hire a grant writer to access programs and dollars from any funding source to provide needed investments in community infrastructure and services,” stated Northern Development Chair Evan Saugstad. “This program has consistently produced the highest return on investment of any program offered by Northern Development.” The program will re-open in January of 2011.

Northern Development Initiative Trust is pleased to announce the establishment of an Economic Development Internship program focused on identifying talented business graduates from northern educational institutions that are seeking careers in local government and rural economic development. The internship will provide a unique immersed program of training and experience that will lead to local governments in the region having a resource for recruiting qualified economic development professionals.

Prince George, BC – The Northern Development Initiative Trust (Northern Development) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) have signed an agreement to help central and northern BC’s manufacturing businesses and suppliers access up to $200 million in incremental capital over the next decade to grow in today’s global marketplace.