The BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA) is an independent and non-profit association of professionals engaged in the economic development of BC and its municipalities. The Association was officially formed in 1979 and was incorporated in 1981 under the BC Society Act.
Today’s membership embraces a broad spectrum of economic development practitioners across a variety of professions and at all levels of the public and private sectors; each adding specialized knowledge to the existing and ever-expanding resources of BCEDA.
BCEDA is governed by a Board of Directors that is responsible for such tasks as strategic planning, professional development, an annual conference as well as a range of special projects. The Board also provides oversight of BCEDA contract personnel, the organization’s financial planning and provides guidance to the association to ensure that membership needs are met and the long term sustainability of the BCEDA organization is maintained.
In an effort to develop stronger ties to provincial stakeholders and the range of policy and project initiatives that impact economic development in the Province, the Board of Directors maintains relationships with various provincial ministries and agencies. This can and has benefited the membership, as it enables a continuous flow of information resulting in wide range of cooperative events and projects.
Today, BCEDA has over 450 members – a 161% increase in the past 4 years – and a membership that represents the majority of all BC communities. BCEDA is the fastest growing provincial economic development association and now the second largest.