Page 24 - FDI Alliance International Magazine Summer 2020 Digital Interactive Issue

Our City has supported regional licensing for trades, and recently see how this area can continue to be a strong part of the economic
was part of the advocacy and roll out of a regional approach for enhancement of our community.
ridesharing. We recognize that entrepreneurs are mobile and they
need to be supported as they grow their businesses. Behind all of this work is the Community Social Safety Initiative that
is underway to ensure that as our City grows, that we have a variety
The City is seeing the benefits of work done 15 years ago to develop of housing options across the spectrum of affordability and that we
an Area Plan for the Downtown. Our Council is undertaking a have resources deployed in the community to address the regional
Downtown Visioning to check in on that work to ensure that the pressures around homelessness, addiction and mental health. We
rapid pace of development that we are seeing is consistent with the want all citizens to feel, and be, safe and connect with resources
vision for densification of the urban core of our community. The they need to live successful lives.
introduction of the rapid Bus Service has created an opportunity
for the development of a comprehensive planning strategy for the » How important is it to retain, expand and attract
east west corridor that will be serviced by this new route. Proactively, new business to the City of Maple Ridge? What new
Council has implemented this study and will set the plan in place strategies will you be implementing in 2021 and
to ensure that this corridor develops with a well thought out plan. beyond to achieve these key objectives?

Attracting new employment and educational opportunities to our
Council has been very active in looking at the zoning of land for
future employment growth. A number of parcels have been identified community are Council’s highest priorities. The marketplace is
and our staff are bringing recommendations forward to Council so changing, and our Council will be developing a comprehensive
that we can designate these lands and work with the surrounding economic development strategy that fits our community and our
neighbourhoods to ensure that we have strong ‘live/work’ balance aspirations as a City.
in our community. There is a significant opportunity in the historic
Hammond neighbourhood where a century old mill on the Fraser There is a tendency for economic development to be a bit of an
River has closed. Our City is working with prospective owners to ‘elephant hunt’ with everyone trying to attract the same list of ‘big
game’ businesses. Our strategy is to work with the strong regional

24. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL