158 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

Mayor Alto has mentioned reducing their grant as part of this year’s budget discussion.

https://www.timescol...savings-7974196

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich has adopted its first economic development strategy, with 21 initiatives designed to diversify the district’s economy, while retaining and growing its existing business base.

The strategy, to be implemented over a five-year period, aims to ensure the availability of services needed by businesses, investors and institutions to both expand existing enterprises and create new employment ­opportunities.

“We know that more people will be moving to this community and we want to ensure that we have employers that offer good-paying, family-supporting jobs and ideally that is going to happen in areas where people can settle in walkable neighbourhoods,” said Mayor Dean Murdock.

https://www.timescol...trategy-8138725

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 January 2024 - 05:30 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Greater Victoria struggles to retain students as grads lack local prospects

Diversifying the local economy, boosting housing could help keep grads in the region

https://www.vicnews....ospects-7342781

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2024 - 10:21 AM.

[Mike K.]

Has this not been a perennial issue for generations? Victoria is too small of a city to adapt to the needs of thousands of grad students. There’s no major industry here outside of some military services and local governments. If you’re a grad student of Econ, you’re likely going to end up working in Toronto. That’s just the nature of that industry, in Canada. Maybe eventually you’ll make your way back west. Where does a comp sci grad student eventually work? Probably Seattle or SFO.

[Victoria Watcher]

Ya, I'm not sure we should be spending tax money to create some type of magnet more so than any other small town.

[Mike K.]

This is straight out of left field. Mayor of Ladysmith will be heading to Victoria to lead SIPP.



- https://x.com/dallas...LNt72cvXf0yWpgg

[Victoria Watcher]

This thing is a waste of money.

[Nparker]

What exactly has the SIPP achieved in its 8 years of existence? Where are the concrete examples of increased prosperity today vs. 2016?

[Victoria Watcher]

Nothing.

[spanky123]

What exactly has the SIPP achieved in its 8 years of existence? Where are the concrete examples of increased prosperity today vs. 2016?

 

They do nice powerpoints and hold a cool conference.

[spanky123]

This is straight out of left field. Mayor of Ladysmith will be heading to Victoria to lead SIPP.

 

Big jump in salary no doubt.

[Victoria Watcher]

Innovation hub for 'blue economy' opens in Victoria

 

The Centre for Ocean Applied Technologies on Herald Street is intended to support ocean-related businesses.

 

 

 

COAST is offering space at a rate that’s about 40 per cent lower than market rate, said Jason Goldsworthy, executive director.

________________________

 

Goldsworthy said COAST’s annual operating budget will be about $1.5 million, funded by the private and public sectors. There are six COAST staff at the facility now, with a total of about 25 people working there.

 

 

https://www.timescol...ictoria-9668426

 

 

Another firm in the building is working on a small autonomous passenger ferry

 

 

That's interesting.

 

 

The Victoria-based Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies, or COAST, is getting a $2 million funding boost from the British Columbia government via its Innovative Clean Energy Fund.

 

Created in 2021 and operated by regional business group the South Island Prosperity Partnership, COAST is developing into the main innovation hub for the blue economy on Canada's West Coast. It said in a statement the new funding will go towards building out its operation.

 

https://entrevestor....bags-2m-funding

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 October 2024 - 02:49 AM.

[spanky123]

^ In other words subsidized co-working space.

[Victoria Watcher]

Hey, they have 4 paying tenants but 6 staff running the centre!

[Victoria Watcher]

“Focus on what’s strong, not on what’s wrong,” he said. “It’s easy for us to point out all the challenges, and there are a lot of these big external forces coming at us. One thing we can do as a region is really get at our strengths in front of us and ask, 'How do we build upon these?'”

The strengths identified in the economic plan include the blue economy, clean tech and life sciences.

The plan also highlighted four pillars of a new economy: resilience, inclusivity, sustainability and entrepreneurship.




https://www.vicnews....-vision-8293592




Honestly, this group is a joke.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 October 2025 - 05:06 AM.

[Mike K.]

Despite their best efforts, this must mean SIPP’s promises to act as a conduit for economic activity have not delivered the expected results. Of course, we will also hear things like now is not the time to reduce funding, because this is when we need orgs like that the most.

We have seen multiple iterations of these economic groups come and go over the years. The story is often the same, sadly.

[Victoria Watcher]

The other large item to return was the $242,000 grant for the South Island Prosperity Partnership. Caradonna defended the move, saying the organization does crucially important work in the local economy and given the economic challenges the country faces, now is “not the time to be scaling back on investments in an economic development agency.” The city’s contribution to SIPP represents 22% of the ­organization’s operational ­funding.

 

https://www.timescol...ougher-11465144

[Mike K.]

Because Victoria has 20% of the regional population.

But really, 90% of what SIPP does will benefit Victoria the most. Sooke pays into it but the benefits are dubious. Langford didn’t pay until the new council was elected.

[Victoria Watcher]

What has SIPP accomplished so far?

 

They have takan in maybe $12M so far.

 

https://southislandp...ited-financials

 

But what have they delivered?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 November 2025 - 07:29 AM.