A local, nimble, resilient economy that serves our local community.

The City of New Westminster works to create conditions that give people business opportunities and sustainable employment, and an environment that supports growth and innovation. At the geographic centre of Metro Vancouver, we recognize the important role New Westminster plays in the broader regional economy. We also understand that our local economy needs to serve our local community. To that end, we collaborate and build relationships to support people now, and into the future, by ensuring quality jobs and enhanced livability for our community.

Objectives

• Support for business in ways that improves processing and permitting times, and allows operators to grow and thrive.
• Create a vibrant and resilient local economy that provides sustainable employment opportunities for all, to improve economic well-being, including Indigenous and equity-seeking communities.
• Establish strong, positive, and collaborative relationships with local business-focused partners and regional organizations to promote and grow our local economy which includes arts, culture, tourism and non-profits that make New Westminster a richer place.

Outcomes

• Active Commercial Areas: Implement the Retail Strategy to support active and welcoming commercial areas with a mix of diverse and vibrant business and cultural offerings.
• High Quality Jobs: Continue to support the creation of livable and sustainable employment opportunities.
• The Role of Culture: Align the structure of the organization to acknowledge the important role of arts and culture, filming, and special events in economic development.
• Business-Focused Relationships: Maintain strong relationships and collaborations with business-focused groups and organizations that represent the breadth of diversity here.
• Business Support: Meet operators wherever they are in their business and entrepreneurial life cycle and improve process through customer service excellence.
• Policy Modernization: Update business-related regulations and plans to meet the needs of our modern economy and better serve our local community.
• Resilient Economy: Leverage our commercial and industrial tax base while prioritizing people for a balanced economy with a range of business and employment opportunities.
• Data-driven Decisions: Continue to collect and monitor data and performance metrics to inform policy and decision-making.