Vancouver Island Economic Alliance

What Vancouver Island Economic Alliance does

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) is a member-based non-profit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Nanaimo, British Columbia. It serves as the regional convening body for the Vancouver Island and rural islands economy, connecting business leaders, municipal and provincial government officials, First Nations leadership, and community organizations across an ecosystem of roughly 920,000 residents and 98,000 mostly small businesses. Its core work is the annual State of the Island Economic Summit, now in its 20th year, supplemented by member receptions held across Island communities and long-form initiatives including Vision 2050, Foreign Trade Zone VI, a Foreign Direct Investment Project, and a Regional Supply Chain Study.

VIEA's product portfolio is a mix of event programming, data publishing, and a social-enterprise licensing program. The Economic Dashboard — developed in partnership with accounting and advisory firm MNP — provides interactive regional economic indicators and historical reports. Island Good is a registered local-products brand and licensing program, offering discounted first-year licensing in qualifying regional districts (Cowichan Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni) and reciprocal discounts through 11 regional Chambers of Commerce. The 2025 Summit introduced a live hologram showcase delivered in partnership with Nanaimo-based FuturVille and Proto Hologram, allowing global speakers to appear via livebeaming technology. The 2026 Summit will feature a presenting-sponsor relationship with Coastal Community Credit Union for Island Good and continued brand work with Array Creative.

VIEA generates revenue from four streams: annual membership fees (subscription/recurring), Summit registration (one-time), Island Good licensing (subscription/recurring), and Summit and program sponsorships (transaction-fee-style). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the organization is led by President Julie Sperber and operates with a small team of 8 employees. The model is a typical regional economic-development non-profit: high institutional value, distributed membership, concentrated sponsorship dependency, and no public financial disclosure.

Name

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance

Legal name

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance

Website

https://viea.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) is a Nanaimo-based non-profit that convenes business, government, First Nations, and community leaders across Vancouver Island. It operates the annual State of the Island Economic Summit, an Economic Dashboard with MNP, and the Island Good social-enterprise licensing program serving a regional economy of ~920,000 residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Economic Integration & Economic Corridors (BPADAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Economic data dashboard
• Business membership program
• Annual economic summit
• Local product advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanaimo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program connecting members with people, insights, and opportunities shaping Vancouver Island's economy. Various membership tiers with associated benefits and fees.
2. Economic Summit Registration: Revenue from the annual State of the Island Economic Summit, which draws approximately 550-600 business and community leaders annually for three days of conferences, networking, and keynote presentations.
3. Island Good Licensing: Social enterprise offering local product branding and membership licensing. Businesses in certain regional districts (Cowichan Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni) receive discounts on first-year licensing, with 25% off for Chamber members.
4. Summit Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorships for the annual Economic Summit, with various sponsorship tiers and opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VIEA is a member-based non-profit regional economic alliance that convenes Vancouver Island business, government, First Nations, and community leaders. It operates the annual State of the Island Economic Summit, publishes regional economic intelligence through an Economic Dashboard built with MNP, runs the Island Good social enterprise that champions locally made products, and supports initiatives such as Vision 2050 and Foreign Trade Zone VI.

Product overview

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) is a member-based non-profit organization that serves as a regional economic development alliance. Rather than offering a unified software product, VIEA provides a portfolio of programs and initiatives including: the annual State of the Island Economic Summit as its flagship event; the Economic Dashboard (in partnership with MNP) for regional economic data; Island Good, a social enterprise promoting local products; Vision 2050 for long-term strategic planning; and Foreign Trade Zone VI for trade facilitation. These offerings work together to connect business leaders, provide economic intelligence, and drive regional collaboration across Vancouver Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Island Good: VIEA's social enterprise that champions locally made products, strengthens procurement pathways, and offers expanded membership opportunities for partners. In 2026, Island Good enters its next phase with Coastal Community Credit Union as its presenting sponsor.
• Economic Dashboard
• Vision 2050
• Foreign Trade Zone VI

Products and services

• VIEA Annual Membership Annual subscription program giving members access to VIEA's network of business, government, First Nations, and community leaders, plus member-only resources, member receptions, and Economic Dashboard access.
• State of the Island Economic Summit Three-day annual conference held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo, attracting 550-600 business, government, First Nations, and community leaders for keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking, and the Island Good Showcase.
• Economic Dashboard
• Island Good Licensing Program
• Vision 2050
• Foreign Trade Zone VI (FTZVI)

Quantifiable outcome

• The 19th Annual Vancouver Island Economic Summit drew over 550 business and community leaders in October 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, innovative, major and supporting.

• MNPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMNP serves as the key economic research and reporting partner, providing the Economic Dashboard in partnership with VIEA. Economist Susan Mowbray, Partner in MNP's Consulting Group, delivers the annual State of the Island Economic Report at the summit.
• Wirk ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIEA convenes longer-term dialogue through Vision 2050, delivered in partnership with Wirk Consulting, to explore what a resilient, inclusive, and thriving Vancouver Island economy could look like over the next 25 years.
• FuturVilleinnovativeTechnology or IntegrationNanaimo-based destination development agency focused on health and longevity. Partnership with Proto Hologram and VIEA enabled first live hologram showcase at the 2025 Economic Summit, allowing speakers to appear live via hologram technology.
• Proto HolograminnovativeTechnology or IntegrationHologram technology provider that collaborated with FuturVille and VIEA to debut live hologram showcase at the 2025 Economic Summit, allowing global speakers to appear live via hologram.
• Coastal Community Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Island Good in 2026, supporting the social enterprise initiative that champions locally made products.
• Array CreativesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerContinued brand development partner for Island Good social enterprise in 2026, supporting marketing and brand strategy.
• Port of NanaimosupportingOthersValued member and recent Summit sponsor. Port of Nanaimo welcomed first shipment of Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada vehicles to the BC Vehicle Processing Centre, highlighting Nanaimo's growing role as a gateway for Canadian automotive imports.
• Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCVRD provides 50% off first-year Island Good licensing for businesses in the Cowichan Valley Regional District, championing local businesses.
• Community Futures Cowichan RegionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting Island Good by championing local businesses and providing promotional support for the initiative.
• Regional Chambers of CommercesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor11 regional Chambers of Commerce (Alberni Valley, Ladysmith, Campbell River and District, Comox Valley, Duncan Cowichan, Gabriola Island, Lake Cowichan, Parksville and District, Greater Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, and Sooke Region) offer 25% off Island Good membership through reciprocal Chamber memberships.
• Foreign Trade Zone VI (FTZVI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIEA supports Foreign Trade Zone VI, a trade and economic development initiative. FTZVI holds virtual sessions on shipping and international trade opportunities.
• Vancouver Island Conference CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the annual State of the Island Economic Summit. The three-day event is held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edmonton Global: Regional economic development corporation serving the Edmonton Metropolitan Region with focus on investment attraction, trade, and data-driven strategy. Comparable as a regional convener delivering economic intelligence and stakeholder alignment.
• Invest Vancouver: Regional investment and economic development agency for Metro Vancouver. Comparable in regional economic development mandate, foreign direct investment attraction, and data/research-driven programming.
• BC Chamber of Commerce: Provincial federation of local chambers of commerce in British Columbia. Comparable as a business membership organization with reciprocal chamber relationships and policy advocacy; VIEA already partners with 11 BC chambers for Island Good.
• Calgary Economic Development: Regional economic development organization promoting business growth, investment attraction, and economic data for the Calgary region. Comparable in mission, regional focus, data/research programs, and trade/investment facilitation.
• BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA): Provincial association supporting economic development practitioners and organizations across British Columbia. Directly comparable as a membership-based economic development body operating in the same province with similar member services and convening mandate.
• Community Futures BC: Network of community-based economic development organizations supporting rural and small-business development across BC. Comparable in mission (regional SME support, Indigenous partnership, rural economic resilience) and geographic overlap with Vancouver Island communities.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Vancouver Board of Trade: Large, established business association in Metro Vancouver offering member services, policy advocacy, and convening events. Comparable in member-based non-profit model and convening role, but operates at much larger scale and broader geography.
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: National business association representing Canadian chambers of commerce and businesses. Comparable as a business membership organization with advocacy and convening mandate, but operating at national scale.
• Toronto Region Board of Trade: One of North America's largest chamber-style organizations, providing membership services, policy advocacy, data products, and convening events for the Toronto region. Comparable model but operating at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Western Economic Diversification Canada: Federal government department supporting economic development across Western Canada. Comparable thematic focus (regional economic development) but as a government funder/policy body rather than a member-based non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-island-economic-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver Island Economic Alliance