Available Resources
Love Quesnel is an online marketing program promoting locally owned, independent businesses in Quesnel. This one-stop business website promotes a shop local ethic, while connecting users to information on local shops and services.
The program offers a customized webpage through lovequesnel.com. Each business webpage features first-rate photography and professional business writing. It’s only $200 to join and we’ll help market your business through the Love Quesnel platform.
Reach out to mcoppin@quesnel.ca to find out if your business is eligible.
Façade Improvement Program
This program provides grants to property and business owners in eligible areas [PDF/1.2MB] to renovate, restore, or redesign retail and commercial building facades and storefronts in Quesnel.
The goal of the Quesnel Façade Improvement Program is to encourage owners or commercial tenants to invest in building façade upgrades that create a more interesting and appealing streetscape, attracting customers, clients, visitors and businesses to the commercial areas of the city. The program promotes private sector investment, increases assessed property values, and stimulates the local economy. Façade improvements also help building owners attract and retain commercial tenants, and promote the marketability of retail and commercial businesses.
Eligible façade improvements may include: new lighting, exterior architectural features, new windows, façade painting, new siding, entrances and doorways, and awnings.
The City of Quesnel will provide a 50% reimbursement grant up to a maximum of $5,000 per building/project to improve the facades of eligible commercial buildings. Minimum project value is $2000. The application is easy, usually with a quick approval timeline.
Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce
335 E Vaughan St, Quesnel, BC, V2J 2T1
T: (250) 992-7262 E: qchamber@quesnelbc.com W: www.quesnelchamber.com
The Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of business in Quesnel since 1910. Striving to be influencers creating an environment for business success and prosperity, it offers networking events, advertising and promotional opportunities, employer/employee benefits packages and professional development. Become a member and take advantage of these great opportunities!
Newsletters
Include events in the weekly Visitor Centre newsletter and stay informed with the monthly Chamber newsletter.
Membership Directory
At no additional cost, be included in the Chamber's online directory.
Visitor Centre Brochure Racking
Free placement of business brochures in the Quesnel Visitor Centre.
Community Futures North Cariboo
335 A Vaughan St, Quesnel, BC, V2J 2T1
T: (250) 992-2322 E: info@cfquesnel.com W: www.cfquesnel.com
Whether you are considering entrepreneurship, buying a business or improving your existing operations, Community Futures is committed to helping your business succeed.
Business Loans
Community Futures provides loans for business start-up, expansion and improvement.
Business Counselling
Community Futures assists business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with business analysis and business planning. They also provide business information, guidance and referrals. Services are free and confidential.
Business Information
Pamphlets, worksheets and links to business resources are available through the Community Futures office and on their website.
Business Training
Community Futures offers regular workshops on a variety of topics aimed at helping you to succeed in business.
Business Succession
Community Futures will help you to understand your exit options, get your business ready for sale, and ensure your business is exposed to the right target market, maximizing its value when you sell.
Businesses supported by Community Futures grow faster and last longer – Statistics Canada Independent Review.
Quesnel Downtown Association
101-246 St. Laurent Ave, Quesnel BC, V2J 2C9
T: (250) 991-0527 E: office@downtownquesnel.com W: www.downtownquesnel.com
The Quesnel Downtown Association focuses on the beautification and marketing of downtown to make it an excellent place in the community to visit, shop, and play.
South Quesnel Business Association
PO Box 4324, Quesnel BC, V2J 3J3
T: (250) 225-5865 E: southquesnel@gmail.com W: southquesnel.com
The South Quesnel Business Association supports the marketing and revitalization of South Quesnel.
West Quesnel Business Association
Box 4242, Quesnel BC, V2J 3J3
T: (250) 255-8225 E: wqbainfo@gmail.com W: www.quesnelwestvillage.com
The West Quesnel Business Association is committed to making the West Village a great place to live, shop and play.
UNBC South-Central
100 Campus Way, Quesnel, BC V2J 7K1
T: (800) 627-7528 E: sc-info@unbc.ca W: www.unbc.ca/south-central
UNBC South-Central campus offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as certificates and diplomas.
College of New Caledonia
100 Campus Way, Quesnel, BC V2J 7K1
T: (250) 991-7500 E: quesnel@cnc.bc.ca W: www.cnc.bc.ca/quesnel-campus.html
The beautiful city of Quesnel is proud to host CNC’s second-largest campus. Students enjoy our community and the well-rounded lifestyle we share. Programs include Nursing, Social Work, Industry Training, University Transfer, and Academic Upgrading. We also prepare students for trades in our West Fraser Technical Centre, which won the Governor Generals’ Award for Architecture.
Work BC
488 McLean St, Quesnel, BC V2J 2P2
T: (250) 992-7691 E: info-quesnel@workbc.ca
W: www.workbc.ca/WorkBC-Centres/Cariboo/Quesnel.aspx
Work BC assists all persons to meet their employment-related goals and achieve increased independence and self-reliance. They offer a free service for job postings, which are emailed to a client list and posted on their job board and social media platforms.
Work BC offers a meeting room space for information sessions to attract new employees and to conduct interviews. They also accept resumes to support recruitment for businesses.
Each year, Work BC holds a Job Fair, where employers have the opportunity to collect resumes and meet potential employees as well as network with other businesses.
Wage Subsidy Program
This program provides temporary financial assistance to employers in the form of a wage subsidy, if they agree to hire a participant for at least 35 hours/week for 12 to 24 weeks. Up to 50% of the wage can be provided during that period.
Community and Employer Partnerships
The Community and Employer Partnerships funds projects to increase training and work experience for job seekers in B.C. Over 7,200 British Columbians have gained employment experience on 684 projects throughout the province. CEP projects help to reduce poverty while strengthening the labour market, supporting communities, and contributing to economic growth.
Sprout Kitchen Regional Food Hub
101 Marsh Dr, Quesnel, BC V2J 3K3
T: (250) 992-0958 E: sproutkitchenhub@gmail.com W: www.sproutkitchen.ca/
Sprout Kitchen is a small-scale food processing and innovation hub that serves the North Cariboo Food Hub Region. A member of the BC Food Hub Network, Sprout Kitchen will provide space and support for emerging and existing food entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground or scale their business for new markets. Sprout Kitchen is an initiative of the City of Quesnel with generous supported from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Northern Development Initiative Trust.
Serving the area from Vanderhoof to One Hundred Mile House, Sprout Kitchen offers new and established food businesses and community groups access to shared processing infrastructure including processing and testing equipment, regional small-scale refrigerated distribution services, and education and training related to food processing and food safety.
Northern Development Initiative Trust
301 – 1268 Fifth Ave, Prince George, BC V2L 3L2
T: (250) 561-2525 E: info@northerndevelopment.bc.ca W: www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/
Northern Development Initiative Trust is a regionally operated economic development funding corporation for central and northern British Columbia. Northern Development operates independently from government and provides the funding and ability to identify and pursue new opportunities for stimulating economic growth and job creation within the region. Northern Development offers a range of funding programs suited to a diverse set of economic development priorities in central and northern British Columbia.
Competitiveness Consulting Rebate Program
This program provides a rebate to small and medium sized companies engaged in manufacturing, innovative technologies, resource processing, transportation,
distribution and their first line suppliers for external consulting services. A rebate of up to 50% to a yearly maximum of $30,000 can be recovered for the cost of external business consulting projects. Projects must focus on increased productivity, new or incremental revenues, profitability and/or job creation. Eligible companies must be privately owned, have fewer than 500 employees, revenues less than $100 million, and be headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
Small Business Recovery Consulting Rebate (SBR)
In response to the impact the forestry sector downturn and COVID-19 pandemic are having on businesses in central and northern B.C., Northern Development is offering the (SBR) Consulting Rebate program. This program is designed to help businesses reduce the barrier to accessing professional expertise and recover the costs of third-party consulting projects. These types of projects must focus on ways to sustain businesses during the current economic downturn. The SBR Consulting Rebate will reimburse small and medium sized businesses (operators) for contracted consulting services. Eligible companies must be privately owned, have fewer than 500 employees, revenues less than $100 million, and be headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF)
The NIIF program provides funding for small and medium sized businesses in eligible industries for applied research and development, new or improved products, and services and testing of innovative equipment or technologies to support capital investment decisions. This program offers a rebate of up to 50% to a maximum of $50,000 per project. Eligible companies must be privately owned, have fewer than 500 employees, revenues less than $100 million, and be headquartered within the Northern Development Initiative Trust region.
Province of British Columbia
BC Bid
T: (800) 663-7867 E: bcbid@gov.bc.ca W: www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca
BC Bid lets you access, create, browse and compete on public sector business opportunities.
Front Counter BC
T: (877) 855-3222 E: FrontCounterBC@gov.bc.ca W: www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca
Front Counter BC is a single window service for natural resource clients of provincial resource ministries and agencies to obtain all the information and authorizations they need to start or expand a business.
BC Registries and Online Services
T: (877) 822-6727 E: OneStop.Help@gov.bc.ca W: www.bcregistry.gov.bc.ca
BC Registries and Online Services provides online business registration and transactions.
Service BC and Government Agents
102 - 350 Barlow Ave, Quesnel BC, V2J 2C2
T: (250) 992-4313 W: www.governmentagents.gov.bc.ca
Province-wide access to government services including key government transactions for business – in person, online or over the phone.
Other province-wide programs
BC Hydro
T: (866) 552-4713 E: incentives@bchydro.com W: www.bchydro.com/powersmart/business/programs.html
BC Hydro offers a variety of programs to help improve your business’ efficiency, including incentives for making energy-efficient upgrades and opportunities to learn from experts. Visit their website to discover their programs and see what incentives your business is eligible for.
Fortis BC
T: (888) 224-2710 W: www.fortisbc.com/rebates-and-energy-savings
FortisBC offers a variety of supports, programs and rebates that can help businesses reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Get Free Energy-Saving Advice For Your Business
FortisBC is partnering with GreenStep Solutions to help BC businesses save energy and operating costs, plus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Via phone, or videoconference, your business can get information about FortisBC rebates on high-efficiency equipment, low-cost and no-cost tips and technical advice on topics such as turning down building systems.
www.fortisbc.com/smallbusiness
Innovate BC
E: info@innovatebc.ca W: www.innovatebc.ca
Provincial crown agency that connects entrepreneurs to funding, resources, and support. Innovate BC supports all size companies, across all sectors, all over the province.
BC Venture Acceleration Program
The BC Acceleration Program forms the largest technology acceleration program, and connects entrepreneurs with business experts and peers to help speed up the growth of their company. Eligible entrepreneurs are accepted for participation based on their product validity, drive and ambition, market opportunity and team talent.
https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/vap
Venture Connect
T: (855) 421-0082 E: info@ventureconnect.ca W: www.ventureconnect.ca
Venture Connect prepares businesses for a sale so they can be transferred to a new owner – keeping businesses in our communities. Whether you are looking to buy a business or sell one, Venture Connect can help.
Women's Enterprise Centre
T: (800) 643-7014 E: inquiry@womensenterprise.ca W: www.womensenterprise.ca
Women’s Enterprise Centre is BC’s leading resource for women entrepreneurs, offering skills development, business loans, free business guidance, business resources, mentoring, networking and events.
Business Development Bank of Canada
Suite 150 -177 Victoria Street, Prince George, BC V2L 5R8 T: (888) 463-6232 W: www.bdc.ca
The Business Development Bank of Canada is the only financial institution dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs. Their mission is to help create and develop strong Canadian businesses through financing, consulting services and securitization, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Through their subsidiary – BDC Capital, they offer a full spectrum of specialized financing, including venture capital, equity as well as growth and transition capital.
Futurpreneur
T: (800) 464-2923 W: http://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/
Futurpreneur offers start-up financial and mentorship services to grow the economy one young entrepreneur at a time. Find free tools to start and run your business and join their growing community of entrepreneurs and experts to share advice, business tips and lessons learned.