About Us
About the Shuswap Economic Development Society
The Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS) – facilitator of economic development and investment attraction – is a not-for-profit organization focused on strengthening the economic future of the rural Shuswap region. It was formed in late 2020 and represents the communities within Rural Shuswap and North Okanagan. Our mission is to strengthen the Shuswap through year-round economic opportunity, thriving businesses, and healthy communities.
Strategy and Initiatives
About Us: Building a Stronger Shuswap Together
The Shuswap Economic Development Society (SEDS) is the regional economic development organization serving the unincorporated communities of Electoral Areas C, D, F, and G within the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. We work collaboratively with local governments, First Nations, businesses, community organizations, investors, and residents to build a strong, diverse, and resilient regional economy
Our vision is simple:
To promote a year-round local economy that supports vibrant communities and a healthy environment.
What We Do
Economic development is about creating the conditions for communities to thrive. At SEDS, we help attract investment, support local businesses and entrepreneurs, strengthen the regional workforce, encourage innovation, and advocate for the infrastructure and services that support sustainable growth.
Supporting local businesses is at the heart of everything we do. From connecting entrepreneurs with resources and funding opportunities to promoting business networking, investment, and growth, we are committed to helping businesses succeed at every stage of their journey. We believe that thriving local businesses create stronger communities, generate local employment, and contribute to a vibrant regional economy.
Our work is guided by community priorities and focuses on:
- Supporting business retention, expansion, and entrepreneurship.
- Attracting new investment and employment opportunities.
- Promoting the Shuswap as a place to live, work, invest, and visit.
- Supporting year-round tourism and recreation.
- Encouraging agricultural innovation and local food systems.
- Advocating for attainable and affordable housing.
- Expanding industrial and commercial development opportunities.
- Supporting broadband, infrastructure, and workforce development.
- Building meaningful partnerships with First Nations, governments, and regional organizations.
- To further support local businesses and encourage residents and visitors to shop local, SEDS is developing a regional Business Directory. Coming soon, this free online resource will showcase businesses across all the communities we serve, making it easier to discover local products, services, dining, accommodations, and experiences throughout the Shuswap.
Our Region
The Shuswap offers an exceptional quality of life, combining rural living with entrepreneurial opportunity. Located at the crossroads of British Columbia, the region benefits from strong transportation connections, thriving agriculture, abundant outdoor recreation, growing tourism, skilled trades, and vibrant local communities. SEDS serves communities throughout the region, including:
Sorrento
Blind Bay
Balmoral
Tappen
Notch Hill
Falkland
Salmon River Valley
Scotch Creek
Lee Creek
Celista
Anglemont
Seymour Arm
White Lake
Eagle Bay
…and many other rural communities throughout Electoral Areas C, D, F, and G.
Working Together
Successful economic development depends on collaboration. SEDS brings together businesses, local governments, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and residents to identify opportunities, solve challenges, and build long-term prosperity.
We recognize that meaningful partnerships with the Secwépemc Nations are essential to the future of the region. We are committed to building respectful relationships that support shared economic opportunities, tourism, cultural awareness, and community prosperity.
Our Focus
As our region grows, SEDS is working to advance initiatives that support complete communities, vibrant village centres, industrial and commercial investment, agriculture and agri-food innovation, tourism and recreation, attainable housing, workforce development, and climate resilience. Together, these priorities help create a stronger economy while protecting the rural character, natural environment, and unique lifestyle that make the Shuswap an exceptional place to live, work, invest, and visit.
Our Investment Attraction Strategy – Summary
Strategy is where value proposition and values is aligned with opportunity. Our strategy is big picture, longer term.
Our Key Initiatives
Gigabit Broadband – the Shuswap Region Broadband Co-op – founded by SEDS, Skw’lax Group Ltd., and the Village of Chase – aims to build an open-access fibre optic network to serve approximately 2,000 underserved households in rural Shuswap.
Marketing – the Shuswap Economic Development Society is producing a comprehensive set of marketing material to nurture investment attraction.
Hot Button Issues – three Shuswap Economic Development Society Task Forces are actively working on implementing the Investment Attraction Strategy: 1) Healthcare Services; 2) Agriculture; 3) Infrastructure.
Board
Indigenous Relationships
The Shuswap is named after the Shuswap Indigenous Peoples – the Secwepemc – a Salish Nation made up of 17 Indigenous groups or bands, with unceded, ancestral lands, spread across south-central British Columbia. Our goal is to establish strong, respectful and reconciliatory relationships, and to identify collaborative opportunities with indigenous partners.
Three Indigenous groups have Reserve lands in our collective service area:
Contact Us
Get in touch to help you explore your investment/relocation opportunity, and grow your business.
Physical Address:
#10, 2417 Golf Course Drive
Blind Bay, BC V0E 1H2
