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DepartmentsProperties, Development and CommunicationsProperties, Development and Communications Overview

Properties, Development and Communications Overview

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Powell River offers an excellent mix of industrial, commercial and residential development and has become a hotspot for businesses and individuals looking to relocate to an area offering an abundance of opportunities.

The region has experienced a surge in migration, with real estate sales hitting record levels starting in 2016 and continuing through to spring 2022. Inside the City, a healthy mixture of single family dwellings and multi-family residential developments are either on the way or completed. Many of Powell River’s new residents (evenly split between retirees and working-age people) have become entrepreneurs and started new businesses, or are telecommuters using the region’s high-speed fibre optic network to work remotely. (Visit Powell River - Discover Yourself to learn more about living and investing in Powell River)

Developers and investors have recognized the value proposition that the City offers and have invested in the community as well. The range of new developments stretches from sectors such as international education, horticulture, food and beverage production to aviation maintenance and repair.

The Powell River Region has a strong history of creating innovative partnerships to move projects forward for the betterment of the community. The City took a bold approach to reducing major industrial tax rates for Catalyst Paper Corporation ($18-million in savings) and in turn made a deal to take ownership of needed lands and assets. The City partnered with the Tla’amin Nation to form a limited partnership to sell lands surplus to Catalyst Paper Corporation’s operations for redevelopment to create new jobs and tax revenues. These partnerships are just examples of how the community works in a cooperative manner to make things happen.

A key area in the City of Powell River’s community economic development arm is sector development and community capacity building projects. The department works across multiple sectors, to develop strategies and plans to move to foster new development and strengthen and grow the local economy. Learn more about Sector Development & Community Capacity Building.