Local government can encourage economic development, but ultimately its business owners that drive it, Mayor Patricia Heintzman said at the Squamish Chamber of Commerce October Mayor’s luncheon on Monday.
“There’s a strong strategic role for government in helping to ensure communities attract and maintain businesses, and ensure economic growth and build resilience,” said Heintzman in her address at the Howe Sound Brew Pub to about 70 attendees. “However, we always have to remember governments don’t create jobs. Individuals do, entrepreneurs do, businesses do. Our role in government is a facilitator role.”
Attendees on hand for Heintzman’s speech included Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy, representatives from Woodfibre LNG, FortisBC, Quest University, Garibaldi at Squamish and local charities such as Squamish Helping Hands Society.
Heintzman acknowledged the business climate in Squamish hasn’t always had a positive reputation.
“If people think it is a pain in the rear end to start a business in Squamish, they simply won’t waste their time and money,” she said. “This has been a metaphorical cloud hanging over Squamish’s head for decades and one we are determined to evaporate.”
The District of Squamish’s economic development vision is “in its infancy,” Heintzman said.
She said the district has been working on key areas of economic development over the last year: the review of the Official Community Plan, updating zoning bylaws; creating a digital strategy; strategic infrastructure investment and the new Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan adopted earlier this fall.
A call is being put out this week to attract an economic development officer for Squamish, she said.
Heintzman said the strategy emphasizes building on Squamish’s areas of current strength.
“Fundamental in this is creating high value businesses in several priority sectors that offer career oriented jobs for local residents,” she said, adding these sectors include forestry, port shipping and marine industry, knowledge based businesses, small scale manufacturing, tourism and retail businesses.
Heintzman also reviewed the busy year that was. The district saw a 32 per cent increase in business licenses in 2015 with 199 new local business licenses.
So far in 2016 there are 144 new local businesses and 153 new non-resident businesses, she said.
A resident business includes home-based businesses as well as brick and mortar shops. A non-resident business sets up within the municipality to perform a service or on contract for a particular project, such as a film crew.
Heintzman said she anticipates an even busier year in 2017.
“Squamish is certainly on a pretty exciting trajectory,” she said, referencing the oceanfront lands, forest sector growth, and port expansion.
