This year, 40 out-of-town companies are anticipated to knock on the District of Squamish's doors with inquires about moving to the Sea to Sky community, says a municipal official.
On Monday, March 18, at Committee of the Whole the municipality's economic development officer reported on work to date and projects ahead. Due largely to a temporary hire in 2012, this year's budget for the office is estimated to jump by approximately 25 per cent.
Staff have almost completed the framework for a development incentives program, aimed at drawing new business and development to downtown and the industrial park, McRae said. Throughout the course of implementing the district's Business Retention and Expansion program, municipal staff have conducted 130 interviews with local business owners of which 50 occur last year. The information needs to be compiled to help guide the district's future planning, McRae said.
Two large projects loom on the horizon. The Economic Development Strategy is drafted to begin this year, with the Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Strategy following next year.
That schedule quickly changed after Coun. Patricia Heintzman questioned its wisdom. The real estate strategy includes an inventory of the types of commercial and industrial lands available in Squamish and future planning to maintain growth. Heintzman suggested the examination be moved forward.
Coun. Doug Race agreed. If district staff completed the Economic Development Strategy before the real estate document, officials could be faced with a plan that targets businesses the district has no land to house, he said.
There may be synergies and possible savings by compiling the strategies in parallel, McRae agreed. Committee of the whole moved a motion to pull both projects forward. The dollar amount tied to their decision will be presented at a later 2013 budget discussion.
Heintzman rallied for the economic development office to be moved from municipal hall to the Squamish Adventure Centre, as part the district's original plan. The office should have a separate website, she said, and its own physical office is important.
District staff are looking into the idea, CAO Corien Speaker said.
