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Penticton’s opportunity problem didn’t happen by accident — we designed it.
A beautiful lake. Thriving tourism. Award-winning wineries.
And yet when it comes to innovation, high-paying jobs, and startup energy… something feels missing.
In this video, I break down why Penticton struggles to attract and retain startups, why young talent quietly leaves, and the structural gap no one’s seriously addressing:
we’ve built a city optimized for lifestyle — but not for opportunity.
After looking at economic patterns, regional comparisons, small-city growth models, and what other BC communities did to unlock innovation, a clear pattern emerges. Throwing money at development doesn’t work. Hoping entrepreneurs just “show up” doesn’t work either. But one strategic shift could change the entire trajectory of the city.
This isn’t about turning Penticton into Vancouver.
It’s not about overdevelopment.
And it’s definitely not about losing what makes this place special.
It’s about adding the missing piece — a startup hub inside a city-owned building — and what that could unlock for jobs, retention, and long-term economic resilience.
If you care about keeping young families here, building real career paths, and making Penticton more than just a retirement and tourism destination, this conversation matters.
Watch until the end to see how one smart move could reshape the city’s future — without sacrificing its character.
💌 Get The Penticton Pulse — Jordan’s 5-minute weekly newsletter on the local issues shaping our city:
https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/f87eec70-65d9-46f3-888c-01b1177d21a9?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D
📱 Connect with Jordan:
Instagram: @pentictonwithjordanwest
Threads: @pentictonwithjordanwest
Facebook: Penticton with Jordan West
Twitter/X: https://x.com/penticton_jwest
TikTok: @pentictonwithjordanwest
🏙️ Let’s build a more innovative, opportunity-driven Penticton — together.
By Jordan WestPenticton’s opportunity problem didn’t happen by accident — we designed it.
A beautiful lake. Thriving tourism. Award-winning wineries.
And yet when it comes to innovation, high-paying jobs, and startup energy… something feels missing.
In this video, I break down why Penticton struggles to attract and retain startups, why young talent quietly leaves, and the structural gap no one’s seriously addressing:
we’ve built a city optimized for lifestyle — but not for opportunity.
After looking at economic patterns, regional comparisons, small-city growth models, and what other BC communities did to unlock innovation, a clear pattern emerges. Throwing money at development doesn’t work. Hoping entrepreneurs just “show up” doesn’t work either. But one strategic shift could change the entire trajectory of the city.
This isn’t about turning Penticton into Vancouver.
It’s not about overdevelopment.
And it’s definitely not about losing what makes this place special.
It’s about adding the missing piece — a startup hub inside a city-owned building — and what that could unlock for jobs, retention, and long-term economic resilience.
If you care about keeping young families here, building real career paths, and making Penticton more than just a retirement and tourism destination, this conversation matters.
Watch until the end to see how one smart move could reshape the city’s future — without sacrificing its character.
💌 Get The Penticton Pulse — Jordan’s 5-minute weekly newsletter on the local issues shaping our city:
https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/f87eec70-65d9-46f3-888c-01b1177d21a9?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D
📱 Connect with Jordan:
Instagram: @pentictonwithjordanwest
Threads: @pentictonwithjordanwest
Facebook: Penticton with Jordan West
Twitter/X: https://x.com/penticton_jwest
TikTok: @pentictonwithjordanwest
🏙️ Let’s build a more innovative, opportunity-driven Penticton — together.