We have curated a selection of business links and entrepreneurial tools.
Local Resources & Governments
South Kootenay Business Centre
The SouthKootenay Business Centre (SKBC) is business incubator and accelerator for start-up and emerging firms in the Greater Trail region. The SKBC helps mitigate barriers to business to help new firms survive the vulnerable and costly business start-up phase.
City of Trail
Provides information on the City of Trail, an events calendar,local news, online bill payment and information on municipal services.
Village of Fruitvale
Provides community information, an events calendar, newsletters, and information on bylaws and licenses.
City of Rossland
Provides links contact information for City Council and meeting minutes, as well as city policies and bylaws.
Village of Montrose
Provides municipal information on water, sewer, garbage, recreation and roads, as well as information on local groups and activities.
Village of Warfield
Provides community information, an events calendar, newsletters, and information on bylaws and licenses.
Trail & District Chamber of Commerce
Provides information on the Trail Chamber of Commerce, its members, events, and a photo gallery.
Columbia Basin Trust
The Trust offers experience and support to all Basin residents with a range of services, programs, initiatives and financial investments. They exist and act for the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Basin—now and for generations to come.
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Provides information on the services the RDKB offers such as waste management, planning, fire protection, economic development, transit, building inspection, permits and bylaws, etc.
Community Skills Centre
Provides employment assistance services, programs and services for youth, training opportunities and support, poverty reduction initiatives, workforce development, information and services in trades and technology, and community economic development through initiatives such as social enterprise.
Lower Columbia Initiatives Corp. (LCIC)
Created in 2010 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society (LCCDTS). Their mandate is to provide economic development services within the Lower Columbia Region and to serve as the ‘first place of call’ as opportunities develop. The LCIC works to develop a creative, dynamic and competitive business environment that fosters economic growth.
Imagine Kootenay
The Kootenay region is quite the place to live and work. Full of exciting recreational activities and diverse career opportunities at all levels. You could find your niche in sectors including resource extraction, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, tourism, education or the arts to name but a few.
WorkBC Trail
The knowledgeable staff at the Trail WorkBC Centre are committed to helping you find employment. We work with you to explore your career options, gain skills, find work and keep it. We provide access to job search resources, employment planning, skills assessments, training, works experience and more.
Kootenay Career Development Society – KCDS
The experts at KCDS have their fingers on the pulse of employment support programs, training and education. The team puts together job seekers and employers, helping them both achieve their goals.
Kootenay Association for Science and Technology – KAST
ACCELERATING TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS. Building a business? Get there faster with direct support from KAST and our partners.
Junior Achievement BC
Helping youth find their path to success. In partnership with educators and dedicated volunteers, JA British Columbia (JABC) brings important educational experiences to thousands of students annually across British Columbia. Through these programs that focus on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, we aim to inspire, prepare and empower BC youth for lifelong success.
Business Basin Advisors
Since 2000, the BBA program has been building economic capacity in Basin communities by providing support to Basin businesses—encouraging newly established businesses to grow and prosper and contributing to the successful management of ongoing businesses.
Business Startup
One Stop Business Registry
Provides online business registrations and transactions such as doing a name search, registering a Proprietorship, Partnership, or Incorporating a company, etc.
BizPal British Columbia
Search for business licence and permit information for any BC city or municipality.
Small Business BC
Small Business BC provides various resources to help with all phases of business in BC from idea to expansion. Originally SMBC was a federal/provincial partnership, but in 2002 it became a not-for-profit society. SMBC offers video conference training that can be accessed through most Community Futures offices.
South Kootenay Business Centre
The SouthKootenay Business Centre (SKBC) is business incubator and accelerator for start-up and emerging firms in the Greater Trail region. The SKBC helps mitigate barriers to business to help new firms survive the vulnerable and costly business start-up phase.
Canada Business Network
Government of Canada website providing tools and information for entrepreneurs. Topics include business startup, financing, taxation, permitting, blogs, etc.
BDC Business Plan Template
Business Development Bank of Canada’s free business plan template designed to help Canadian entrepreneurs.
Export / International Trade
Trade and Invest BC
Provides a listing of trade resources and events to help Canadian businesses establish new markets outside of Canada. Also includes investment info such as Community Profiles, an Investment Opportunities database, and a Guide to Doing Business in BC.
European Business Directory
Provides database searches for suppliers of products or services of 600,000 companies including Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
Global Edge
Hosted by Michigan State University and funded by the US Dept of Education, Global Edge provides current insight into global business. Compare countries, view market indicators, post messages in the forums, take an online course, or subscribe to their newsletters.
Japan External Trade Organization
Provides market information, statistics and surveys, standards and regulations, trends and a business matching database for those interested in buying or selling to/from Japan.
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Provides information on doing business with China. The Trade Development Council is the global marketing arm and service hub for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service exporters. The website lists thousands of offers of products for sale, wanted, distributorships, investments, franchises, etc., as well as events and industry news.
Federation of International Trade Associations
Provides a searchable database of over 8,000 trade resources, country profiles, country specific tariffs, shipping, buy/sell and many other resources. This is a very extensive website. The offers to buy and sell products alone exceeds 1 million postings!
Government & Licensing
Pacifican
PacifiCan is the Government of Canada’s new economic development agency dedicated to British Columbia. PacifiCan promotes growth and diversification in B.C.’s economy by enhancing innovation, improving business competitiveness, and promoting inclusive growth.
La Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique
This is BC’s Francophone Economic Development Organization (FEDO). FEDOs enhance the vitality of minority language communities in Western Canada and assist in their economic development.
BizPal British Columbia
Search for business licence and permit information for any BC city or municipality.
Canada Business Network
Government of Canada website providing tools and information for entrepreneurs. Topics include business startup, financing, taxation, permitting, blogs, etc.
Service BC
Service BC provides links and information on government programs and services in British Columbia.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (Industry Canada)
The Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website provides consumer information, online and interactive tools, electronic commerce services for Canadian businesses and consumers.
MERX Electronic Tendering
Provides information on Canadian public tenders for all levels of government as well as the educational and health care sectors. and private construction opportunities in Canada. Public tenders offer free basic accounts with add on services for a monthly or annual fee.
BC Bid
Provides information and a browsable database to compete on British Columbia public sector bidding opportunities for goods and services.
Research Tools
Global Edge
Hosted by Michigan State University and funded by the US Dept of Education, Global Edge provides current insight into global business. Compare countries, view market indicators, post messages in the forums, take an online course, or subscribe to their newsletters.
BC Stats
Provides various statistics on the Province such as: labour & income, population & demographics, business & industry and many other topics.
Statistics Canada
Provides statistics, studies, indexes and community profiles for Canada.
