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INVEST in BC 2 0 2 3 57 Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association. In special partnership with BCBusiness. untapped export markets on the Pacific Rim. That's expected to support prices for the resource and spur further exploration, feeder pipelines and future production. The Northeast makes a huge and soon-to-grow contribution to the clean energy conversation as well. The existing two BC Hydro dams on the Peace River generate around 30% of B.C.'s hydro- electric power and a third, Site C, will supply 1,100 megawatts more—ensuring the province's electrical grid is almost 100% renewable far into the future. Work on the $16-billion BC Hydro Site C project is nearing completion, with reservoir filling to begin as early as the fall of this year and full electrical generation capacity online in 2025. Site C is just southwest of Fort St. John, the Northeast region's urban hub and location of the North Peace Regional Airport, served by both Air Canada and Westjet. Reflecting the optimism in the area's economy, the city boasts several new developments. Parkwood, a master-planned, mixed-use community is unfolding on 600 acres, as is The Station Town Centre, a residential/ commercial development on 207 acres. Surerus Industrial Park provides 90 acres of serviced industrial land alongside the Alaska Highway. The Landing brings hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail space to the city, anchored by a new Canadian Tire store. In 2023, a new Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment opens, and work is ongoing on Fort St. John's downtown revitalization. In 2021, the city opened the Centennial Park Festival Plaza, provid- ing a partially open, partially covered public space for programmed events and community gatherings. Indeed, virtually all the communities in the Northeast have something to celebrate. Dawson Creek has a five-year agreement with Hockey Canada for showcase events taking place at the Ovintiv Events Centre. There are plans for renewable wind farms in the Taylor and Tumbler Ridge areas. Tumbler Ridge continues its resurgence as more than just a mining centre with the potential of becoming a remote working center with pending improvements to the connectivity infrastructure. Not surprisingly, with all this investment and economic activity in the pipeline, the Northeast overall boasts the highest median household income and the highest workforce participation rate—over 70% of adults aged 15-64—in the whole province. For consumer-facing businesses looking to locate here, it's fertile ground. • N O R T H E A S T REGIONAL POPULATION 74,043 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE N/A TOP EMPLOYERS BY INDUSTRY Retail trade 12.7% Construction 12.4% Mining & oil & gas extraction 9.7% FORECAST EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2022-32 1,900 BUILDING PERMIT VALUES (2022) $82.7 MILLION HOUSING STARTS (2021) 113 VALUE OF MAJOR PROJECTS PLANNED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Q3 2022) $44.7 BILLION BUSINESS INCORPORATIONS (2022) 465 SOURCES: B.C. L ABOUR MARKET OUTLOOK , STATISTICS CANADA AND B.C. STATS. RENEWABLE RESOURCE: Despite cuts to the timber supply, the forest sector (above) continues to diversify the industrial base; the Centennial Park Festival Plaza (left), part of Fort St. John's downtown revitalization BOT TOM: CIT Y OF FORT ST. JOHN