The Comox Valley has a number of Business Networking groups, each with its own focus and mandate. The groups listed below have established formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements with Comox Valley Economic Development to collaborate on specific projects and initiatives annually.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce exists to be the voice of business in the Comox Valley. Their mission is community and business leadership through excellence, innovation and sustainability.
DCBIA provides leadership in the business community to ensure that the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Area continues to be vibrant and responsive, meeting the needs of its members and the public and remaining on the leading edge of change.
The Comox BIA promotes trade, commerce and an enhanced business and social environment.
The Comox Valley has a strong and more educated labour market to support businesses looking to expand or relocate to the region. Sources for employment access and information include:
A Business Licence is required if you plan to carry out business within the City of Courtenay.
All businesses, including home-based businesses, operating within the Town of Comox require a business licence. Business licences are valid for each calendar year period, and can be applied for at any time throughout the year. For more information on operating a business in the Town of Comox, click here.
A business license is not necessary to operate in the regional district.
Find more programs / grants here:
Are you a farmer looking to meet your financial obligations?
You could access up to $1,000,000 in cash advances per program year based on up to 50% of the anticipated value of eligible agricultural product(s) you are producing. The first $100,000 is interest-free.
You must repay the advance within 18 months (up to 24 months for cattle and bison), as you sell the agricultural product.
Other conditions apply.
If you are a B.C. agricultural producer, you could get payments to help cover the loss if your current year margin falls more than 30% below your reference margin.
To be eligible, you must:
Other conditions apply.
By collaborating with government researchers, you could increase your business’ scientific capacity for R&D projects relating to fish health and environmental performance.
Eligible industry applicants must be:
Other conditions apply.
Starting out as an entrepreneur in the British Columbia technology sector? You can get help to build your business and accelerate your growth with their BC-wide network.
You will be guided by an Executive in Residence at each step:
Your acceptance will be based on product validity, ambition, market opportunity, and team talent.
As an Indigenous entrepreneur, you could get up to $350,000 to start or grow your business.
Operations can be on or off reserve.
You can use the loan to:
Rather than using the money you need for day-to-day activities, consider applying for additional financing. With the BDC Small Business Loan, you could get up to $100,000.
Are you eligible?
Other conditions apply.
If your film production business is a Canadian-owned and controlled corporation, you may be eligible for financial assistance.
Funding is available through a variety of programs, including the following:
If you are an agricultural producer, this program could help you get a loan from a bank, a credit union or a caisse populaire.
Eligibility:
Other conditions apply.
The economic development fund supports environmentally sound and sustainable economic development activities throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Priority will be given to projects that have positive environmental or social impacts, direct or indirect.
If you live in rural British Columbia, you could get a loan of up to $150,000 to start or grow a small business. You need to:
Other conditions apply.
Access free cloud-based compute-and-storage resources to reduce the R&D development costs of your small or medium sized high-tech business. If your business has fewer than 500 employees, you could qualify to use this environment to:
Other conditions apply.
This program provides access to business services across Western Canada, including:
To qualify you must:
Other conditions apply.
If you are an Aboriginal resident of B.C. you could get support to start or grow your business.
Participating lenders:
Are you a newcomer to Canada between the ages of 18 and 39, with a limited credit history? If so, you could apply for a repayable loan to start a business.
To qualify you must:
Are you a Canadian Armed Forces member, veteran, reservist, or a family member looking to establish yourself as an entrepreneur? Or do you have a business already?
This national bilingual program offers:
Women’s Enterprise Centre’s Business Loans Program offers small business loans up to $150,000 to women-owned businesses in BC that can help you start, enhance or grow your BC business.
To qualify you must:
Other conditions apply
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Click here to contact us.
Innovate BC’s Ignite Program provides up to $300,000 to fund innovation projects in the areas of natural resources, applied science and engineering.
BC Tech Co-op Grant – Need talent? Get up to $10,800 in funding to hire a co-op students through the BC Tech Co-op Grant.
Innovator Skills Initiative Program – Offers up to $10,000 a year to hire a business or tech student.
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) – Provides financial support to qualified small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NSERC – Engage Grants are designed to give innovative companies that operate from a Canadian base access to the knowledge, expertise and capabilities available at Canadian universities and colleges.
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program – Federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada.