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Prince George, B.C. – The City of Prince George has won a BC Economic Development award for its Foodie Friday program.

The City won in the Best Community Project category at a ceremony Monday night in Victoria. The awards are held annually to recognize B.C.’s best economic development programs, partnerships and marketing initiatives.

Foodie Friday was launched last summer on the front lawn outside City Hall around Veterans Plaza.

The event – which started up again June 2 this year and will continue through August – offers public access to local food truck vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday.

The City helped facilitate the program by waiving all permit fees for vendors, providing free electricity hook-ups, organized musical events and music infrastructure, provided adequate seating and provided free online and radio promotions for businesses.

“The City was responding to a call we were hearing from local downtown businesses to increase traffic to the area and maintain the sense of excitement and community we experienced during the Canada Winter Games,” says Melissa Barcellos, manager of economic development.

“We wanted to create a way businesses could raise awareness of their brands, increase sales, and serve a clientele they normally would not be able to access, particularly the thousands of people who work downtown.”