Salmon Arm Economic Development Society
2019
Recognizing the value of the technology sector province-wide and with a view to support the 80+ technology companies operating with the City of Salmon Arm, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society partnered with numerous community and government organizations to launch the Salmon Arm Innovation Centre in spring 2018. As a hub for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, the Centre aims to expand Salmon Arm’s economy through workforce development and entrepreneurship support – a mandate that is being achieved via three distinct, but linked and co-located services:
- a community makerspace, which provides access to diverse equipment and workshops
- a business accelerator program, which offers continuous on-demand programming support to entrepreneurs across all sectors of our economy
- a co-working space, in which new business startups, freelancers, remote workers and other independent professionals can work together in a share communal setting
Project Outcome 1
Our co-working community has grown significantly in the past year, with the Innovation Centre now nearing full capacity and looking to build-out new office spaces in the coming months.
Project Outcome 2
The Shuswap Makerspace offers ongoing workshops in robotics, 3D printing, electronics and woodworking; has developed specialized programming for school groups; and has collaborated with other organizations including Canada Learning Code and the local school district to expand our program offerings.