Coquitlamgets2050-readyforjobs

Coquitlam is where the jobs will be in Metro Vancouver over the next 30 years

And it will be the second fastest-growing municipality in the region for new residents

Those were the projections that city council heard on Monday (March 6) as staff get ready to launch an updated Economic Development Strategy for the next five years

In his report to council-in-committee, economic development manager

Andre Isakov said his team spent a year talking to business owners about what Coquitlam needs to do to have a competitive edge over its neighbours by recruiting and retaining business

And its draft 49-page roadmap shows how the city can plug into three key sectors to ensure residents have local jobs and not commute to other municipalities They are:

• advanced manufacturing (advanced construction materials, and food and nutrition)

• creative and cultural (film production, and visual and digital effects)

• nature and environment (tourism and clean tech)

To drill down over the next couple of years once council has formally approved the document following stakeholder feedback from business partners

Isakov and his team will focus on five areas to better position Coquitlam as it adds an estimated 95,000 more residents by 2050, an increase of 59 per cent over the next 30 years They are:

• develop an economic development competitiveness study

• create new business promotional marketing materials

• establish direct business outreach programs and services

• attract major employers to the City Centre core and other commercial hubs

• support more Business Improvement Areas

The strategy, which can be viewed at coquitlam ca/eds, is being funded by the city ($120,000 via the city initiatives reserve) and a $30,000 grant from CanExport As well, in the 2023 budget, council approved a new position for a business growth manager, who will help with the rollout of the new economic development vision

Isakov said the work is especially important in today’s challenging market following the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created higher inflation and labour shortages

“We all know that Coquitlam is special, and it’s our people, places and partnerships that shape our story the story of an ambitious and amenity-rich community in the heart of Metro Vancouver,” he said, adding, “We know that local business is our bloodline”

But Coun Craig Hodge said Coquitlam’s challenge is the lack of land, especially for industrial businesses; he’d like to see one-storey industrial buildings phased out

“The last thing that I want is more big box stores or single-storey warehousing,” Hodge said, noting United Boulevard’s potential at rezoning “We need to build higher”

“Our real opportunities for land are up not out,” added Coun Dennis Marsden

Still, development director Andrew Merrill said there hasn’t been much uptake to date

Coun Steve Kim, vice chairperson of the city’s economic development advisory committee, said he likes the idea of Coquitlam forming cultural hubs to connect and bring in vibrancy to the core “We have so many entrepreneurs and small businesses We need to get them out of their basements and into office space in the city,” Kim said

Coun Teri Towner also suggested the city tap into the talent of new Canadians who, according to the latest census, show that immigrants are highly educated and self-starters, while Coun Matt Djonlic said post-secondary institutions need to be part of the picture

The new year brings new roles for Coquitlam’s newly elected council

On Monday (March 6), city council named the politicians who will be heading up advisory committees, and taking part on statutory boards and external bodies:

• Mayor Richard

Stewart: Joint Policing

• Coun. Brent

Asmundson: Multiculturalism (chairperson); Sustainability and Environmental (chairperson);

• Coun. Matt Djonlic: Sports and Recreation; Universal Access-Ability; Coquitlam library board; Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel (chairperson); TriCities Homelessness and Housing Task Group

• Coun. Craig Hodge: Community Safety (chairperson); Culture Services

• Coun. Steve Kim: Culture Services (chairperson); Economic Development; Coquitlam Foundation

• Coun. Trish

Mandewo: Economic Development (chairperson); Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable

• Coun. Dennis

Marsden: Sports and

Recreation (chairperson); Fraser Health Municipal Government Advisory Council; Tri-Cities Healthier Communities

Partnership

• Coun. Robert Mazzarolo: Multiculturalism; Sustainability and Environmental; Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel; Tri-Cities Food Security Table

• Coun. Teri Towner: Community Safety; Universal Access-Ability (chairperson); Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel; SD43 Mental Health Task Force Council also ratified the citizen appointments on committees; the municipality received 120 applications a higherthan-usual number, city staff said

Stewart praised the candidates who sought a seat at the table, saying the city has a “deep appreciation for those who step up”

Still, Marsden said he would like to see more input from neighbourhood associations like the Maillardville Residents Association on Community Safety, saying they are the ears and eyes on the ground