The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce (NDCC) is a member driven organization comprised of more than 500 small to medium sized businesses throughout Nelson and area. The Chamber is a not for profit organization, incorporated under the Federal Board of Trade Act. The Chamber is governed by a Board of Directors, who adhere to the NDCC Bylaws and Constitution. The NDCC is a member of the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Through our advocacy efforts, and our work with the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership we promote business growth, sustainable development and job creation while facilitating strong, productive relationships with the community, educational facilities, businesses, non-profits and government organizations.
ADVOCACY PRIORITY AREAS
The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) engages, supports, and informs the business community to shape community dialogue and identify issues of concern to our member businesses. The Chamber also engages elected officials at all levels of government to ensure the region’s business interests are heard. This is of particular importance to our membership when advocating issues of concern to regional and municipal governments.
Our membership in the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce is of primary importance when advocating areas of concern to the more senior levels of government. Through our membership in the network, the Nelson and District Chamber joins our voice with more than 200,000 businesses across Canada to maximize our impact and influence at that level.
The Chamber is at its most effective when backed by an active and informed membership. To that end, we actively engage our membership through round table discussions, sector consultations and surveys to best identify and address issues that affect our community.
Here are some of the priority areas the Nelson and Area Chamber of Commerce is working on right now.
Downtown Urban Design - Nelson Council
The Chambers position is that the downtown is the key commerce centre for the community. A clean, welcoming, interesting and unique downtown core communicates that we as a community care. We care about our residents that live and work here, we care about the visitors that come and spend money here, we care about who we are as a community and we care about the direction we are taking as we move towards the future. As the downtown Urban Design moves forward in 2018-2019 and beyond, the Chamber Board is committed to ensure the business community is actively engaged in discussions that will impact them directly, including parking, taxation, access to business during construction, as well as needed infrastructure improvements and how they are scheduled to ensure the least economic impact to the downtown business core.
Hall Street Phase 2 - Nelson Council
The Board of Directors of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce has been growing concerned with the direction the City is taking when it comes to infrastructure development and the lack of meaningful consultation with the business community. Since the Hall Street Phase 2 Plan was adopted by the City in April, the Chamber with a working group of key businesses in the Lakeside Drive, Hall and Front Street areas have been working closely with City of Nelson public works and administration to ensure access to business is maintained.
Railtown Development - Nelson Council
Fair Business Taxation and Local Economy - Nelson, RDCK, Provincial & Federal
The Chambers position is that fair and competitive residential and business taxes, a competitive cost of living, as well as a regional approach to economic development contributes to a healthy, resilient and growing economy and healthy community.
Affordable Housing Nelson - RDCK, Provincial and Federal
Members are becoming increasingly concerned with the scarcity of affordable housing available to our local workforce, particularly for those earning low to moderate wages.
The Chamber will continue to advocate to local, regional, Provincial and Federal governments to invest in, develop taxation policy, or reduce or defer development cost charges that would stimulate housing and rental inventories.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
We are the voice of business in the community.
The staff and volunteer board of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce work to promote a healthy and vibrant economy while protecting and advancing the interests of our members and the community.
The Chamber works cooperatively with citizens, businesses, educational and government partners to foster a positive business environment and improve the quality of life in Nelson and area. Our goal is to promote growth, and healthy economic development, and to work as our members’ number one “business booster” through our advocacy efforts and economic development initiatives.
We have valuable partners in this regard: Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism Association, City of Nelson Downtown Waterfront Masterplan working groups, Regional Economic Dialogue with our neighboring communities, Community Futures and Imagine Kootenay
And here’s a powerful reality. The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, through its strong membership, is an equal partner with all other chambers within the BC Chamber of Commerce. Issues, concerns, and initiatives identified in Nelson have every opportunity to help shape policy at a provincial and even national level through the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
