The South Okanagan's first Nissan auto dealership will open at the Penticton Indian Band's Satikw Crossing development.
"I'm very honoured and excited to work with the Penticton Indian Band and bring this fast moving automotive franchise to the Penticton community," said Nissan Penticton owner John Kot, who confirmed lease negotiations are being finalized for the lease of a two-acre site.
More than 30 full-time jobs are expected to be created at the dealership when it opens in mid-2017, and more jobs during construction. Infrastructure work by the Penticton Indian Band to service the site is expected to start within 60 days.
According to the Penticton Indian Band, interest and inquiries for the Satikw Crossing development — also known as the Channel Lands — has steadily increased since the completion of the bridge as there has been a number of businesses who have already contacted them.
"Signing our first commercial tenant at Satikw Crossing proves that when you build it, they will come. This is the culmination of a 22-year journey to resolve legal, environmental and financial hurdles to build an $8 million bridge to the future that links our economies with the broader region," said Penticton Indian Band Chief Jonathan Kruger.
Kruger added the PIB is demonstrating their commitment to help Locatees develop their vision for the lands they own by "building and financing the bridge and infrastructure on the Channel Lands." The five-lane bridge that spans the Okanagan River Channel at Green Avenue, and financed by the PIB, opens up access to more than 140 acres of development land..
Kot said they look forward to the expansion of their operations into Penticton and the facility will boast a state-of-the-art 16,000 square foot building with Nissans New Image program.
"It is great to see the Nissan brand come to Penticton and strengthen the product offerings here to keep people and dollars in our region. This really shows the potential of the Satikw Crossing to bring new business opportunities and continued momentum to Penticton," said Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit in a press release.
The Penticton Indian Band said they have the largest reserve lands in B.C. In addition to the Satikw Crossing bridge and commercial development projects, the PIB has recently completed the construction of two major community facilities — Sqilx'w Community facilities and the PIB Outma Sqilx'w Cultural School -- both valued at over $13 million. The new facilities are powered by geothermal energy.
Play Winery recently opened at the Band's Skaha Hills development. The 550-acre resort-residential development overlooking Skaha Lake sold out its first phase and a majority of its second phase and will eventually see over 600 homes, vineyards, a winery, walking and cycling trails built on this exceptional parcel of land. (Read more on Play Winery here)
In total, the Band envisions more than $100 million in capital projects taking place on its lands within the next 10 years.
"I'd like to thank our Band Council and our community for providing support on economic initiatives such as the Satikw Crossing. We are committed to work with all of our Locatees in helping them succeed with their business and development ventures. The Penticton Indian Band will be one of the strongest engines in the region for economic growth," said Chief Kruger.
Kruger thanked the federal government for their contribution to the Satikw Crossing infrastructure project, and acknowledged the City of Penticton and the Province of B.C. for their support as approvals for construction were being sought.