Nelson has a lot to offer tech companies who want to relocate to the area. That was one of the messages from three city councillors who attended the BC Tech Summit in Vancouver recently. Rik Logetenberg was one of the councillors in attendance and feels with the closure of Pacific Insight and Can Filters, there’s a manufacturing sector that needs work.
“For example, software companies, there’s some green or renewable energy companies, there’s some green technology companies. We’re actively recruiting to have them move their operations to Nelson.”
Logtenberg himself is a tech entrepreneur and feels there’s many great reasons to move here on top of the high speed internet.
“If you’re a tech company, you’re looking to create a culture and an experience for your employees that’s beyond just their salaries. You want to help them create a life that they can really enjoy and that’ll make them more productive workers, so we’re really selling the lifestyle part of Nelson and the Kootenays.”
Already, two companies have called the City expressing interest in taking a road trip out here to tour the area.
The councillors also had meetings with Premier John Horgan and the ministers involved with tech innovation to lobby for more funding. Logtenberg says he also highlighted the importance of preserving the region’s natural assets to Premier Horgan.
The Kootenay Association of Science and Technology or KAST also had a big presence at the event spreading the word about the Nelson Innovation Centre.