Initiative

Comox is shaped by its relationship with water. Water inspires a dynamic waterfront and marina, a postcard-friendly downtown, and a marine-focused defence sector.

Comox aims to achieve community and economic development in balance with its inspired natural environment – a challenge in context of accelerated recent population growth on Vancouver Island, “character” Comox’s desirability as a mid-island Vancouver island community, and population growth pressure to come in new provincial housing policy. A key economic development strategy formation challenge: how to plan for growth while enhancing quality of place, pursuing better not just bigger for the sake of it, AND generating municipal fiscal capability to invest/re-invest in infrastructure assets and amenities.

That Comox is a special place is reflected in a first-ever community Economic Development Strategy that leverages and seeks to enhance a key BIG THREE infrastructure value proposition: MARINA, DOWNTOWN, and AIRPORT(s). These three infrastructure foundations represent the first three goals in the Economic Development Strategy. A fourth goal – INDUSTRIAL LAND – recognizes that additional industrial land is needed to meet a desire to nurture a self-sufficient community that creates quality jobs, generates revenue that helps pay for desired services and amenities, while fully recapitalizing the Town’s assets – from streets to recreation facilities.

The Downtown was the subject of a distinct Downtown Enhancement Action Plan developed as part of the initiative.

Each of waterfront/marine and industrial appendices were generated to provide more extensive analysis and detailing of solution-sets.

Entrepreneur ecosystem development, key industry sector development, and Town of Comox operationalization of economic development are identified and actioned in the Strategy as key ENABLERS that help realize economic development goals. Today Comox is healthcare service, defence, tourism and retail. Comox DIVERSIFICATION efforts will additionally support Health and Wellness, Manufacturing, Food and Beverage, “Marine” (shellfish/fishing), and attraction of business-minded lifestyle-seekers – enabled by new municipal economic development capacity and resources. These community-building elements are inter-connected; they rely on each other to succeed.