Municipality of North Cowichan
Economic Development Committee
AGENDA

Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:30 P.m. - 2:30 P.m.

Municipal Hall - Large Committee Room

---

1.

CALL TO ORDER

This meeting will be conducted in-person in the Large Committee Room where the public are invited to attend to observe the meeting.

2.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Purpose: To consider any items of business not included in the Agenda, that are of an urgent nature, must be introduced and approved at the time the agenda is adopted. Matters must be taken up in the order that they are listed unless changed at this time.

• Recommendation:

  ​​​That the agenda be adopted as circulated [or as amended].

3.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

Purpose: To consider if there were any errors or omissions prior to adopting the minutes.

• Recommendation:

  ​​THAT the Committee adopt the minutes of the meeting held October 30, 2023.

4.

BUSINESS

4.1

Crofton Mill Closure and Next Steps

Purpose: Mayor Douglas to provide an update on the Crofton Mill closure and next steps.

4.2

Community Wealth Building

Purpose: Heather Hachigian, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Business, Royal Roads University, to provide the committee a presentation on Community Wealth Building.

4.3

Economic Development Action Plan

Purpose: George Farkas, General Manager of Planning, Development and Community Services, to provide a verbal update and share key themes from engagement findings. Jamie Vann Struth, Deloitte Consulting, and Gil Yaron, Lighthouse Consulting, to present interim findings in the development of the Economic Development Action Plan for Committee discussion.

4.4

Summary of the Circular Economy Accelerator Program

Purpose: To provide the Economic Development Committee with an update on the Circular Economy Accelerator Pilot Program and consider future program involvement.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Economic Development Committee support the continuation of the Circular Economy Accelerator Program and recommend that Council direct staff to:

  1. Provide a Letter of Intent to Synergy Foundation to signal our continued interest in program participation; and,
  2. Allocate $15,000 from the Climate Action and Energy Plan Reserve Fund for the Circular Economy Accelerator Program, to secure space for three North Cowichan businesses in the 2024 cohort and three North Cowichan businesses in the 2025 cohort.

5.

NEW BUSINESS

6.

ADJOURNMENT