The city’s new economic development officer is originally from Williams Lake.
Beth Veenkamp said she is related to Alan Moberg of the Williams Lake Stampede song fame and filmmaker Robert Moberg is her mother Patricia Moberg’s brother.
“I left after completing Grade 10 at Anne Stevenson, finished high school in the Lower Mainland, and went to university,” she said.
I have lived in Kelowna for the last 15 years working mostly in the non-profit world.”
Better job opportunities and the push to leave the south were the main reasons for returning to the Cariboo, she added.
“We decided we would come here, reset and plan for the future. Kelowna is very competitive.”
Her dream, she chuckled, is to purchase property with a 1972 square box on upper Pigeon Avenue with a detached shop.
Veenkamp began work on March 6 and replaces former economic development officer Susan Fournier who left the position in February.
Because city council decided to make it a part-time job, Veenkamp has accepted another part-time job administering the Seeding Start-Ups pilot project.
The pilot is aimed at helping entrepreneurs who are starting a new business or wanting to turn a part-time business into full-time.
Supported by the city, the Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area Association, Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin, Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce and the provincial government, the start-up program offers contributions of up to $1,500 for 19 to 29 year olds and up to $1,000 for people 50 years old and up.
“I’ve got a year to help 30 businesses start up in the Williams Lake,” Veenkamp said. “It is a pilot project and we have funding until March 31, 2018.”
To qualify for the grants, applicants must be a resident of Williams Lake and or be planning to operate a business in the city.
“If you lived at 150 Mile but planned to operate in the City of Williams Lake then I could look at it,” she said.
Two entrepreneurs are ready to pitch business ideas to the Seeding Start-Ups Review Panel on Thursday, April 6.
“It is a pitch, like Dragons Den,” she said, noting participants are coming through Community Futures and have accessed business plan workshops and other information.
“I am not going to duplicate that and re-invent the wheel, I’m working with Community Futures,” she added.
Veenkamp is available to answer questions and provide more information on the program. Anyone considering entrepreneurship, can contact her at 250-392-8480 or email bveenkamp@williamslake.ca.
