Construction has started on the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Duck Lake Business Park, located on Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7 in Winfield, north of Kelowna.
The project was funded through Indigenous Services Canada’s Community Opportunity Readiness Program. The Government of Canada provided $2.275 million to support the business park’s infrastructure costs, including site preparation, earthworks and grading, road realignment, paving, water and wastewater servicing, drainage infrastructure, and power.
Once completed, this new development will feature approximately 23 acres of new commercial lands including 300,000 square feet of new commercial building space.
“We, as Council, are proud of the fact that our OKIB Group of Companies has successfully undertaken, as our first initiative, the creation of our very own business development park,” said Chief Bryon Louis, Okanagan Indian Band. “This development will continue to provide opportunities for our memberships’ longstanding entrepreneurial spirit, facilitate full-time employment and training for members and surrounding communities.”
The project will help meet the high demand for commercial and light-industrial space in Central Okanagan. Long-term benefits will include on-reserve business opportunities, increased employment, job training, improved infrastructure, and the creation of new community revenue generated through leases, sales and partnerships.
According to the government, the project will create 316 full-time jobs, provide training for an additional 145 Indigenous individuals, increase community revenue by more than $4.7 million, and generate nearly $73 million in economic benefits for the region over eight years.
“Indigenous businesses are the backbone of communities across the country and an important part of our economy. Canada is pleased to support projects like the Duck Lake Business Park, which contributes to the Okanagan Indian Band’s long-term growth and well-being. The community and the local economy will benefit from the jobs, training opportunities, and infrastructure this project is bringing,” said the Honourable Marc Miller Minister of Indigenous Services.
The OKIB said it has already secured two tenants that are interested in long-term leases at the business park.
