City of Fort St. John

The City of Fort St. John needed digital platforms that could support two complementary goals: attracting new investment, and encouraging resident and workforce growth within the region. Rather than overloading the main municipal site with content better suited to dedicated platforms, the City sought a distinct yet sustainable solution that could support long-term growth and usability. At the same time, both platforms needed to remain easy for internal staff to manage, be fully responsive and accessible across devices, and offer scalability for future growth.

The focus for the economic development microsite was to present investment attraction opportunities, business resources, regional advantages, and development information in a polished and engaging format. Meanwhile, the resident attraction microsite would prioritize community-focused intention—highlighting lifestyle, recreation, affordability, career opportunities, and the unique experience of living in Northern British Columbia. The City's vision for these platforms included distinct branding and messaging tailored to different audiences, while still allowing for content, resources, and updates to be efficiently managed internally.

Upanup designed and developed two custom Drupal microsites as part of a connected digital ecosystem. The Invest Fort St. John platform supports economic development and investment attraction initiatives through strategically organized content, economic data, land and development information, and engaging visuals. NorthBound and Found on the other hand, focuses on community storytelling and resident attraction, using authentic messaging, lifestyle-focused content, and dynamic imagery to help prospective residents envision life in Fort St. John. Both platforms were built within Drupal CMS using responsive, accessible design practices, giving City staff the flexibility to independently manage and expand content over time without requiring frequent overhauls.

Behind the scenes, the sites were architected to share key content and data across platforms—the event calendars and business directories can be shared amongst the two websites, while only requiring content to be updated once. This connected approach improves efficiency, supports content consistency, and creates a more seamless user experience across the City’s digital ecosystem.

Key Services Included:

• Custom website design & development
• Microsite strategy
• Interactive Content Features
• Website Hosting & Support
   

Both platforms were built within Drupal CMS using responsive, accessible design practices, giving City staff the flexibility to independently manage and expand content over time without requiring frequent overhauls.

The result was a pair of modern, highly targeted websites that work together to effectively support and grow Fort St. John's broader economic and community development objectives.
 

Key Project Outcomes Included:

• Distinct microsite brands tailored to different audiences while maintaining alignment with the City’s broader digital presence
• Improved promotion of investment opportunities, economic development initiatives, and regional business resources
• Enhanced community storytelling to support resident and workforce attraction efforts
• Shared content functionality allowing calendars, directory content, and other resources to be centrally managed across multiple sites
• Reduced administrative overhead through streamlined content management workflows
• Accessible, mobile-friendly user experiences designed for long-term scalability and growth

Together, these flexible platforms help position the City of Fort St. John as both a strong investment destination, and an exceptional place to live, supporting the City’s ongoing vision for growth, economic opportunity, and community development in Northern BC.

"Upanup really listened to our goals and executed our vision for these microsites--we love how they look, and how they function as an extension of our main website. We are excited for the impact they'll have on our community." — Ryan Harvey, Communications Manager, City of Fort St. John