Skip to content

The Basin Business Blender

KRIC hosting regional small business event June 6 at COTR.

On Thursday, June 6, the Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council (KRIC) will be hosting the Basin Business Blender, a special event for our region's manufacturing and technology businesses, at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook.

The Blender is a three-part event, where participants can attend for the whole day, only the workshop, or the evening networking and keynote.

It begins with a skill development workshop from 1-5 p.m., in which participants will learn practical tools to develop positioning statements, hone marketing strategies, and improve sales performance.

"A positioning statement is the heartbeat of an effective communications plan," said Larry Sparks, Executive Director with KRIC.

"It's one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal, and can help you understand and communicate the benefit your product or services provide to your target customers. We're proud to be offering this opportunity in direct response to feedback we've received from businesses wanting access to additional marketing and sales training."

Starting at 5 p.m. is the evening reception and business networking event in the lobby of the College, complete with appetizers and cash bar. It will be followed by the keynote at 7 pm, Rallying Regional Innovation: Forging Success in the Columbia Basin.

The keynote, delivered by Jim Bottomley, will provide insight into trend convergence, examining how technical, economic, social, demographic and trends in consumer behaviour are combining to affect the Columbia Basin's future.

It will also focus on the Regional Cluster approach to economic development, and how it creates ongoing innovation, grows local employment, and leads to the development of specializations that generate competitive advantage.

"In the new economy, clusters are a means of regional growth and development with proven results," said Bottomley, who is one of Canada's leading Cluster experts.

"Becoming identified with skills and expertise in specific areas creates international recognition, and attracts new business, jobs and research to a region. Clusters can provide participating businesses with ways to move their company forward, leverage local research, launch new products or services, and obtain investment."

The workshop, including a complimentary ticket to the evening keynote event, is $40. The networking event is free, but registration is requested.  The keynote only is $15. Travel subsidies are also available for qualifying business.  For more information, and to register, visit kric.ca.

The Business Blender is part of a two-year Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Manufacturing and Technology Sector (MATS) initiative supporting economic diversification and development, with a focus on the development, retention and expansion of manufacturing and technology businesses. It is delivered in partnership with the KRIC, and the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST).