Economic Development association of bc recognizes "move-to-kamloops" marketing and business attraction campaign

Kamloops, BC - Venture Kamloops has received a prestigious provincial award from the Economic Development Association of BC. Jeff Putnam, CEO, and Anita Grover, economic development manager, received the award for "Community Project of the Year" in front of 350 delegates at the annual EDABC conference on April 11, 2007 in Vancouver.

The "Community Project of the Year" was awarded to Venture Kamloops for its innovative "Move-to-Kamloops" marketing and business attraction campaign launched in 2006 in the Vancouver market as well as overseas in the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

"This recognition of Venture Kamloops' creative efforts is well deserved," said Kamloops Mayor Terry Lake, "We are all very proud of the team that has propelled Kamloops into the provincial and international spotlight."

"The objectives of our integrated www.MovetoKamloops.com marketing campaign and web portal were three-fold", says Anita Grover. "To consistently position Kamloops as a desirable place to visit and invest: To promote and encourage economic diversification; and to provide updated community information in a cost-effective timely manner".

The criteria for the award emphasized community partnerships and innovation. Venture Kamloops joined forces with the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce to develop the web-based information portal. Venture Kamloops also received high scores for the partnership with the former Kamloops Marketing Society for the bi-monthly "City of Rivers" lifestyle publication distributed to over a million homes in Kamloops and the lower mainland in 2006, as well as its overseas efforts to attract skilled workers in partnership with Province of British Columbia and City of Kelowna.

Venture Kamloops competed with six other agencies and communities- Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Invest Kootenay Initiative, City of Campbell River, City of Powell River, City of Dawson Creek, and City of Parksville.

Jeff Putnam, CEO
Venture Kamloops
Tel: (250) 828-6818
E-mail: jeff@venturekamloops.com

Dale Wheeldon,
Executive Director
Economic Development Association of BC
Tel: (604) 858-7199
E-mail: Wheeldon@edabc.com