A new project in the South Okanagan could be a big boost for the local economy.
The Osoyoos Indian Band is developing hundreds of acres of their land into an industrial park at the north end of Oliver near Highway 97.
They’ve received $2.7 million from Indian Affairs and Northern Development to help get the Senkulmen Enterprise Park off the ground.
The $5 million park has 50 lots for lease, with the hopes of attracting new manufacturing jobs.
“Now that we’ve finally got our project off the ground, it’s been talked about for decades you know, there will be some new business and some new jobs and a new quality of life coming to the South Okanagan,” says Chief Clarence Louie.
The Osoyoos Band is investing $1 million toward the project, with Western Economic Diversification and the Bank of Montreal also assisting financially.
Louie says their investment will help support the entire community.
“Anytime any business comes to the Osoyoos Indian Band it benefits our people,” says Louie. “I firmly believe that every job is important.”
Louie says he’d like to see more good development come to the South Okanagan.
“I don’t care what the job is. It’s feeding that family, providing an income for that family or that person. So every job is important, whether it’s on the reserve or off,” he says.
The Osoyoos Indian Band is home to about 475 people and several First Nations businesses, including North America’s first Aboriginal owned winery (Nk’mip Cellars), the Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre and the Nk’mip Canyon Desert Golf Course.
Band businesses employ First Nations people from 35 different communities.
The industrial park is designed with natural landscaping, water and energy conservation, with 96 acres set aside as an ecological zone.
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