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Osoyoos Indian Band to build eco-industrial park in Oliver

OLIVER, BC – Construction will soon begin on an environmentally-sustainable enterprise park in Oliver now that partnership funding for the project is in place, the Osoyoos Indian Band Council announced earlier this month.

The Senkulmen Enterprise Park received $2.7-million in partnership funding from Western Economic Diversification Community Adjustment Fund. The Hon. Stockwell Day, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla and Minister of International Trade on behalf of the Canadian Government made the presentation today at a ceremony to officially launch the enterprise park.

“Many Bands across North America have established industrial and commercial parks and they are proving to be the financial and job creation lifeblood for their communities,” said Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie.

“Our goal is to deliver one of the most environmentally sustainable industrial and commercial park developments in Canada,” said Chief Louie. “Realizing this goal concludes a 40-year journey for our Band to develop a state-of-the-art Enterprise Park that will attract new businesses to the area, provide year-round well paid jobs and generate economic spin-off benefits for the South Okanagan for generations to come.”

"The Osoyoos Band is once again showing leadership with this initiative,” said Stockwell Day. “Their vision for sustainable economic growth will bear positive results for years to come."

The Senkulmen Enterprise Park will be located on a 207-acre parcel of land at the north end of the Osoyoos Indian Band reserve on Highway 97 near Oliver, with approximately 112 acres dedicated for commercial activity and 95 acres set aside as environmentally protected land.

The enterprise park will be developed in several phases to the highest environmental standards. It expected to take 10 to 20 years to build-out and will ultimately accommodate up to 40 tenants.

Upon completion, the Senkulmen Enterprise Park is expected to attract new manufacturing and supporting jobs to the South Okanagan. These jobs are expected to provide year-round, well-paid employment, with salaries typically higher than those in other local sectors such as retail and tourism.

“Green” components planned or under consideration for Senkulmen Enterprise Park:

• District Heat System using waste heat from the nearby Vincor winery.
• Geothermal cooling/heating from underground water source.
• Solar energy cells mounted on building roofs for heating and lighting.
• Earth roof for the sanitary waste building.
• Greywater recycling from Enterprise Park tenants to be used for irrigation needs.
• Partner with environmental organizations to replant conservation areas such as the utility corridor.
• Conservation of sensitive habitat areas.
• Landscaping with local vegetation.
• Strong environmental and aesthetic guidelines for tenants.

December 23, 2009  By Newswire