Since June, the District of Squamish has been courting 43 companies potentially interested in moving to town.
Out of those investment prospects, district officials are still actively working with six to eight, the municipality's economic development officer told the Economic Development Standing Committee on Tuesday (May 7).
We are working with a handful of very serious players, Dan McRae said.
District staff have attended meetings around the province in an effort to attract businesses to Squamish, he said. That includes gatherings such as the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program an initiative that helps B.C. employers recruit or retain qualified foreign workers.
The meetings have been fruitful, McRae said. Recently, he said he's fielded an inquiry from Singapore. Those projects are multifaceted, he noted, with many details that take time to wrap up.
They won't come to fruition until a year from now, McRae said.
As part of the municipality's business retention and expansion plan, which was rolled out in 2011, the district now has the most comprehensive data on the local economy ever produced in Squamish, he said. District staff have interviewed 126 business owners in 16 different industries.
Fifty-two action items came out of that, McRae said. We are open for business and we are serving business.
Compared to other communities throughout the province, Squamish's economic development department is busy, he said. There is forward movement around town, including land deals and investment prospects, McRae said.
There are a lot of things happening in this town, he said.
Coun. Susan Chapelle agreed. While she said there's a tendency for officials to become insular, those who travel outside of Squamish find that others are talking about the town. People need to see that outside vision and understand how lucky they are to live here, Chapelle said.
It is just going to draw economic development, she said.
