Positive business and development are popping up everywhere on the Coast - and it's exactly the kind of momentum and shot in the arm we need.
In recent weeks the success stories are everywhere.
A Lower Mainland company is looking at starting up a passenger ferry service in Gibsons. Next, the Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority celebrated the opening of its new concrete float and drive-on ramp, a valued addition to the commercial fishing industry on the Coast.
Gibsons council last week moved two housing developments, one on Park Road and the other on Gibsons Way next to the PetroCan station, to the next stage of approval.
The FUSE Community Work Hub hosted a highly successful Barn Raisers event where five new entrepreneurs each received $500 in start-up funding to get their businesses up and running. The work hub will also be providing a year's worth of mentorship to the up and coming business owners.
This week we learned that Sechelt council, through its development advisory committee, is striving towards airport expansion. The expansion has been on the books of many previous councils, but this time it appears we are finally on the right track and will be able to secure the funds necessary to get this project off the ground.
Now comes word that a strong proposal to create a Gibsons Public Market in the former yacht club building in Lower Gibsons is gaining momentum. Proponents are actively looking for $250,000 to make this exciting proposition a reality.
Discussions have been held in-camera with Gibsons council, so we can't divulge all the details, but suffice it to say, the idea looks to be right on the mark.
Modelled after the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, the proposal is already receiving high praise from many business leaders in our community. Community Futures is one of them, and by next week, when a resolution comes back to Gibsons council, and hopefully a positive recommendation, to resolve the parking issue, Community Futures could be just days away from helping to bring the idea to fruition.
The positives of this market are endless, and the benefits to the Coast are incredible.
The past few weeks have seen a spark of energy from the community, our business leaders and politicians to create a lot of lasting, positive potential for our whole community. It's a great thing to see everyone coming together to create these projects. Here's hoping that the Gibsons Public Market is another endeavour that gets the green light.
Let's keep this momentum going. Let's keep positive. Let's continue to grow and prosper.
