September 17, 2004 marks the last day of the Salt Spring Island Community Economic Development (CED) Project. The office closes its doors and disconnects its phone on that day. The two-year project, sponsored locally by the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce and Salt Spring Community Services, achieved much of its goal of supporting local businesses with a variety of initiatives. Over the course of the project, valuable experience was gained by the participants and by the community at large.

The CED Project underwrote valuable, well-attended workshops across many areas of personal and business development. The closure of the CED Project leaves a void in this valuable area, one we hope will be filled by others.

In partnership with the Salt Spring Community Housing and Land Trust, the CED Project has made great strides towards improving the affordable housing options for island residents. Housing is an increasingly important issue on the island and the efforts of the CED Project on this front are much appreciated.

The creation/promotion of the Simply Salt Spring logo embodying ready recognition of Island enterprise was a major focus of the second year. With over 100 participants so far (and growing weekly) and with excited acceptance demonstrated by residents and visitors alike, the logo is established. Following closure of the CED Project office, the Simply Salt Spring logo will be visible online at the website www.simplysaltspring.com. (Note: This website is no longer in use.) The website will continue to connect potential consumers to producers, retailers, artists and other businesses using the logo. Islanders who have not yet joined the program, but wish to, can enrol through the website.

Salt Spring Dollars, our community's complementary currency, was another focus of the CED Project. Money -- any kind of money -- serves a number of functions but only two are essential. It provides a standard of value and it offers a medium of exchange that is more efficient than barter. Salt Spring Dollars safely and seamlessly do both. Salt Spring Dollars are a means to strengthen community cohesiveness and to keep our wealth at home--vital first steps in rejuvenating and diversifying our local economy. The CED Project introduced the concept of complementary currencies to Chamber sub-groups, service clubs, and other island organizations. The CED Project also worked with merchants, artisans and financial institutions to make their use in the community as transparent as using our national currency. Salt Spring Dollars have the potential to raise substantial sums, generated in the community, to be used for community-determined purposes

CED recognizes a triple bottom line -economic, social and ecological - as essential to the health of communities. CED is an evolving, on-going process founded on the belief that community problems need to be addressed in a holistic and participatory way.