President's Message
- Mathew Dundas
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, I am pleased to present the 2023 Annual Report for Venture Kamloops. This report highlights our ongoing mission of creating economic growth to establish the city as the premiere location for business development.
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Executive Director’s Message
- Jim Anderson
Early in 2023, we learned from newly published census data that Kamloops was among the 5 fastest growing communities in the country. To some, this may have come as a surprise, but not to us at Venture Kamloops. Despite the monumental distraction of the pandemic and all the uncertainty it brought, business has been ticking along in the city. Growth is robust – a reversal of the days when Kamloops routinely posted “steady, but unspectacular growth.”
Read MoreThe VK Team
The team at Venture Kamloops works to provide the most up-to-date information to those interested in starting their business in Kamloops or expanding their current operations in the city. Contact us today and book an appointment for a confidential, no-obligation consultation to discover how we can support you.
Meet Our Staff Meet Our BoardVK Programs
VK Venture Advisors
The VK Venture Advisor Program is a mentorship initiative aimed at assisting entrepreneurs in launching or expanding their businesses. In 2023, the program welcomed nine entrepreneurs from diverse industries. These entrepreneurs received guidance and support from seasoned business leaders through the program, along with access to resources and networking opportunities to facilitate business growth.
VK Accelerate
In 2023, the VK Accelerate Program continued its focus on aiding early-stage or transitioning entrepreneurs in securing their first physical location. Several entrepreneurs participated in the program, benefiting from connections to funding opportunities, mentorship, and various business and real estate networks. Through the program, these entrepreneurs were able to expedite their business growth and lay a solid foundation for sustained success.
VK Workforce Development
The VK Workforce Development Program is Venture Kamloops' latest endeavor, created to assist businesses in accessing diverse government and non-governmental hiring initiatives. Its goal is to link businesses with the necessary resources to recruit and train employees across all levels of expertise, from beginners to highly skilled and senior management positions. With the VK Workforce Development Program, businesses in Kamloops can enhance their teams by tapping into local, national, or international talent pools.
City Gardens, by Kelson Group
VK Inside Track
The VK Inside Track Program, seeks to build connections with real estate developers from outside the region. This program offers developers current market data and other essential information to guide their investment decisions in Kamloops' thriving real estate market. Venture Kamloops aims to promote partnerships and investment in the area, which in turn drives economic growth and opens up new opportunities for businesses and residents.
Finding Your Starting Point
The Start Here initiative by Venture Kamloops serves as a centralized hub, acting as the primary entry point for entrepreneurs aiming to initiate or expand their ventures in Kamloops. It offers a wide-ranging directory of resources, encompassing funding options, mentorship programs, and training opportunities provided by nine entrepreneurial support entities within Kamloops. By consolidating various support services into one accessible platform, the Start Here program simplifies the resource acquisition process and guides entrepreneurs through the intricate network of business support services available in Kamloops.
VK Metrics
Strategic Plan Implementation (Number of Goals Achieved)
Economic Snapshot 2023
Employment Statistics
Source: statscan.gc.ca
Population Change
2016 to 2021
Source: Statistics Canada Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population
Housing
Building Permits
Excerpts from 2023 Financial Statements
Operating Results
| For the Year Ended December 31 | Budget | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | |||
| City of Kamloops Economic development funding | $646,131 | $696,131 | $639,733 |
| Government Grants | - | $13,000 | $10,000 |
| Donations in kind | $40,322 | $42,015 | $40,322 |
| Other Revenue | - | $868 | - |
| $686,453 | $753,085 | $690,217 | |
| Expenses | |||
| Administrative | $374,759 | $391,021 | $345,355 |
| Business Attraction | $224,928 | $205,423 | $262,101 |
| Business Retention and Expansion | $171,091 | $154,675 | $107,021 |
| $770,778 | $751,119 | $714,477 | |
| Annual Deficit | ($84,325) | ($1,966) | ($24,260) |
| Accumulated Surplus, beginning of year | $85,712 | $85,712 | $109,972 |
| Accumulated Surplus, end of year | $1,387 | $87,678 | $85,712 |
Financial Position
| As at December 31, 2023 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $125,409 | $125,872 |
| Accounts Receivable | $2,023 | $3,905 |
| $127,432 | $129,777 | |
| Liabilities | ||
| Accounts payable | $52,976 | $67,322 |
| Net Financial Assets | $74,456 | $62,455 |
| Non-financial assets | ||
| Prepaid expenses | $8,334 | $15,913 |
| Tangible capital assets | $4,888 | $7,344 |
| $13,222 | $23,257 | |
| Accumulated surplus | $87,678 | $85,712 |
2023 Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4 | Chamber Social |
| January 18 | IECBC Design Lab - Building SMEs Network and Local Design Perspectives |
| January 27 | Kamloops Food Policy Council Strategic Planning Session |
| January 31 | Kelowna UDI |
| February 1 | Chamber Social |
| February 8 | CHBA – CI Dinner |
| February 16 | UDI Pacific Vancouver |
| March 1 | Chamber Social |
| March 1 | Kelowna UDI |
| March 2 | VK Accelerate - Launch Party with Paul & company LLT. |
| March 7 | WEBC: We Grow Together |
| March 9 | Immigration 101 for Ec Dev |
| March 15 | Tourism Career Fair |
| March 16 | An evening with Kukpi7 Rosanne and Mayor Reid Hammer-Jackson |
| March 28 - April 5 | Workforce Development Emigration Expo, Houton Netherlands |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 5 | Chamber Social |
| April 6 | MBA Social Enterprise Pitch Panelist |
| April 17 - 19 | BCEDA Economic Summit |
| April 24 | VK Accelerate – Launch Party with Xpress Chef |
| May 3 | Chamber Social |
| May 11 | Women in Business: Accelerating Parity across leadership and beyond with Kamloops and District of Chamber Commerce |
| June 7 | Chamber Social |
| June 14 | VK Accelerate – Launch Party for Our Footprints |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 5 | Chamber Social |
| July 20 | Chamber BEA Finalist announcement at the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Powwow Arbour |
| July 21 | Tourism Kamloops Launch the Loops Explorer Station |
| August 2 | Chamber Social |
| August 17 | KCBIA |
| August 21 | NSBIA |
| September 6 | Chamber Social |
| September 12 | 2nd Annual Chamber Golf Tournament |
| September 21 | KCBIA |
| September 28 - 29 | 2023 Workforce Conference and Job fair |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2 | Kamloops Immigrant services Presentation on entrepreneurship |
| October 4 | Chamber Social |
| October 11 - 22 | UK/Ireland Canada Live |
| October 26 | Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence award |
| November 1 | Chamber Social |
| November 7 | NSBIA |
| November 14 - 16 | 2023 Economic Development Leadership Learning Exchange |
| November 16 | Grand Opening of Swelaps Market |
| November 22 | BDC Presents Pierre Cleroux Vice President, Research and chief economist BDC |
| November 23 | Nutters 1st Anniversary |
| December 1 | Tourism Mug and Muffin |
| December 6 | Chamber Social |
| December 6 | Destination Canada Virtual Booth Management |
| December 7 | TteS Business and Economic Development Holiday |
| December 11 | VK Christmas Social |
| December 11 | Tourism Kamloops Mug and Muffin |
| December 12 | NSBIA Christmas and Go Event |
VK Data & Resources
CityViz Data Dashboard
CityViz is a comprehensive platform offering data visualization tools aimed at empowering communities to make informed decisions based on data. Within the Kamloops community, CityViz provides a diverse range of information including demographics, transportation, housing, and more. This data can be analyzed to gain deeper insights into the community's needs and potential opportunities. Users have the ability to explore and interact with the data on the platform, facilitating informed decision-making processes.
VK Report Builder
The Venture Kamloops Report Builder was developed to provide visitors to our site the opportunity to develop their own customized report on Kamloops, utilizing the most current information.
