Based on the weather we have been experiencing lately, you might question if the above is true, but just look around! Spring is here and such a wonderful time of year. It is a time of rebirth, of growth and optimism for the days ahead. We see many signs that we recognise as indications of the good days to come.
Squamish is experiencing the spring of our local economy, coming out of the winter we have been enduring for the past few years.
Council has identified economic development as our No. 1 priority. We are continuing with our economic development strategy plan that was developed last year. The major ingredients of that plan were to hire Mr. McRae, initiate a Business Retention and Expansion program, and ensure the district internal processes are responsive to investors & developers. The BRE program works directly with local business owners to better understand what is happening in the business community and respond effectively.
Council has decided to aggressively move ahead and accelerate aspects of the economic development work plan.
In this year's budget we included funding to hire clerical support for Mr. McRae to allow him more time with business and less with paperwork. We also funded three additional programs: business leader roundtables with council, investment readiness assessment, and development of an investment incentives program.
Within the district we are conducting a complete restructuring of the Planning, Building, Environment and Trails departments. This includes the creation of a new Development Services division focused on improved customer service and efficiencies to the development industry. We are also increasing the supply of employment lands in the Squamish marketplace by making business park property and the Oceanfront development project available to the marketplace to facilitate employment-related investment.
We are meeting regularly with and coordinating efforts of the various local economic development groups, including: Inside Edge, Downtown BIA, Tourism Squamish, Squamish Chamber of Commerce, Training Innovations, and Quest University, among others. These synchronized efforts are generating many benefits, not the least of which is the maximization of the economic benefits of events in Squamish such as Live at Squamish, Test of Metal, Squamish Days Loggers Sports and GranFondo. Just last week we created a steering committee to address the replacement for the recently destroyed Welcome to Squamish sign and the gateway concept to direct visitors into downtown Squamish.
Some of the encouraging signs of our economic spring include the business park employment lands being developed, the construction of residential projects Rivendale, Crumpit Woods and University housing, the Sea to Sky Gondola, the Oceanfront, sold signs on houses that have been listed for several years, redevelopment of the Chieftain Plaza and the new Cornerstone building downtown.
It's spring. Enjoy!
