Business Incentive Programs

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or new start up in Kitimat? Here’s your chance to grow your business network and cover some start-up costs!

Entrepalooza is an event organised to provide startups and aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to network with other entrepreneurs and resource providers. At the end of the evening, an entrepreneur will go home with $1,000 towards their start-up costs. Registration is free and can be completed through the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce website. This year’s event is proudly sponsored by LNG Canada and the Northern Sentinel.

FAQs

• What kind of drink will there be?

There will be one free non-alcoholic beverage for all attendees.

• I want to bring a partner or friend. Is that okay?

Absolutely! If you plan on bringing a partner or friend, please kindly fill out a registration form for them here: https://kitimatchamber.ca/entrepalooza . This helps us ensure that our numbers are accurate.

• Tell me about the grand prize?

We’re excited to give away $1,000 to one lucky winner in business start-up/growth costs. You know best what your business needs, so we’re offering the $1,000 as a reimbursable prize. You might use it for:

• • Paying for a business license
  • Buying inventory
  • Paying website hosting fees or merchant fees on a credit card reader
  • Advertising or marketing costs
  • Much more…

Through the Spring of 2024, the District of Kitimat and the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce hosted an exciting series of free workshops, called "Kitimat Business Bootcamp".

This program was sponsored by LNG Canada and Rio Tinto.

Leaders of Kitimat’s small businesses attended to learn about topics most affecting business ownership.

These topics included:

• Temporary foreign workers
• Succession planning
• Grants and external funding
• Housing supports
• Negotiation and Finding a Space
• Digital Support

At the end of the series, participants were invited to take the next step by joining the Kitimat Business Builders Competition. Presenting to a panel of special-guest judges, local business leaders expressed how they would use the up to $10,000 in prize money offered.

We’re proud to share the 2023 winners of:

• Vitality Spa and Clinic ($2,000)
• Big Jim’s Liquor Store ($3,000)
• Harmonized Soul ($5,000)

The District and Kitimat Chamber will return in 2024 for a new series of workshops and competition. Look for advertising in the new year. 

NEW as of October 2022! - Read more about the Commercial Centre Revitalization Tax Exemption Program.

The Commercial Centre Revitalization Tax Exemption will provide eligible business owners with a 50 per cent reduction in their municipal property taxes, potentially up to 10 years, for improvements made to their buildings, including for work to their business’ exterior.

Improvements to the building must be at least $50,000, with at least $25,000 applied to the building’s exterior. Successful applications will see a five-year reduction in their municipal property taxes.

EXTRA | Eligible applicants could also see their reduced municipal property taxes extended up to an additional five years, through energy efficient improvements to their buildings. These could include:

• A project certified as being compliant with Step 4 of the B.C. Energy Step Code
• New siding with enhanced thermal resistance. (See guidelines for further details)
• New windows with a U-Factor of .32 or less
• Other improvements are also considered. Refer to Page 4 of the guidelines for more details on all of these items

View the program guidelines here to find out the full eligibility requirements, and find all the required documentation and forms for an application.

To support food and liquor serving premises in Kitimat, businesses can now apply for a free permit for 2023 to set up a temporary patio on public lands. More information on the program is available here. 

Ready to apply? Please fill out the application and provide the requested documents and drop off to City Hall front desk or email the information to Planning Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, closed for statutory holidays.

The Love Kitimat program was launched in 2015 and established for independent, non-franchise Kitimat business selling retail goods and services.  It provided:

• A web presence to help promote your business
• Eligibility to accept Love Bucks from your customers
• Eligibility to participate for free in annual Plaid Friday and Focus Local events
• Notification of webinars and info sessions to help grow your business

Love Bucks

• Love Bucks are similar to gift certificates 
• They can be spent at any Love Kitimat business listed on the Love Kitimat website
• Available in $25 denominations (upon request other denominations may be in circulation)
• No credit can carried over (one time use)
• No expiry (some Love Bucks are still in circulation and Love Kitimat businesses can redeem these for their cash value at the District of Kitimat Main Office during regular business hours).

Love Kitimat is part of Love Northern BC, a marketing program managed by Northern Development Initiative Trust out of Prince George and will run until the end of 2024.  Stay tuned for changes and improvements to our "Shop Local" program in the future.