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Vision North Okanagan

Established group leading North Okanagan economic recovery plan

May 4, 2020 | 5:20 AM

The City of Vernon has decided not to form a special economic recovery task force related to the COVID pandemic, primarily because an existing group is already leading that effort.

A long-time committee called Vision North Okanagan, which represents business, municipal and community agencies including the city, is now holding weekly meetings, and coordinating business recovery and response programs.

Mayor Victor Cumming said the group has put the North Okanagan in a good position for recovery.

“That’s already been functioning, and is functioning well. They are already onto what they are going to be doing about recovery. So we are in a very good positon in the North Okanagan because that group is already up and established and operating successfully,” Cumming told Vernon Matters.

Cumming said council has suggested Coun. Kari Gares be added to the Vision North Okanagan Action Team, as there isn’t one now.

Staff from Community Futures North Okanagan, local chambers of commerce, the Downtown Vernon Association, Okanagan Indian Band, Okanagan College, The Province of B.C., Mitacs, the Social Planning Council and Regional District of North Okanagan are among the participants in the working group.

Kevin Poole, economic development and tourism manager with the city, said the action group is drafting terms of reference.

“It will include specific initiatives such as ongoing one on one business interviews and support, virtual business meetings with subject matter experts (i.e. taxation, human resources, law, selling online), policy recommendations based on business and industry feedback, industry roundtables to discuss sector-specific funding programs, challenges along with guidance regarding an anticipated gradual reopening of businesses,” wrote Poole in a report to council.

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