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Economic Development Plan
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Help shape New West’s economic future!
Small Business Focus Group
New West small businesses - we want to hear from you!
The City is hosting a Small Business Focus Group to inform our update to the Economic Development Plan. We're looking for 25 small business owners or managers to offer their insights, discuss their challenges, and share their big ideas to help inform New Westminster's future economic direction.
Event Details
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: City Hall – Council Chambers (511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster)
The event is limited to 25 participants who represent a cross-section of our small business community. If you would like to attend, email by Tuesday, April 7 with your business name, who will be attending, and where your business is located. Registration is limited to one person per organization.
Online Surveys & Community Pop-ups
Thank you to all those who participated in our February 2026 online surveys and community pop-ups! We are currently reviewing feedback and will be reporting back on what we heard in late Spring 2026. Check out our Be Heard New West page for updates.
Economic Development Plan Update
The Economic Development Plan sets New Westminster’s economic vision, goals, strategies and actions, with the ultimate intention of fostering a supportive local environment for business and investment.
The City is working to update the current Economic Development Plan, which concluded in 2023. The update will provide an opportunity to assess the current local economic environment, re-evaluate priority areas of focus, and collaborate with those who live, work, and do business in New Westminster. The Plan will provide an overarching framework for the City’s economic development activities, as well as focus and direction to the Economic Development Office over the next five years.
The updated plan is anticipated to focus on the following areas:
- Identification of New Westminster’s local economic opportunities and challenges
- Retention and expansion of existing businesses
- Attraction of new businesses, sectors, and investment
- Increasing overall livability and affordability
- Connecting people, businesses, organizations and investors
- Showcasing New Westminster’s competitive advantages
What is local economic development?
“Local economic development” is all of the ways that the City government and community members work to develop good jobs, help businesses thrive, support non-profit organizations and institutions (like hospitals and schools), and attract new community investment in New Westminster. At its core, this work aims to raise the standard of living for residents, and make New Westminster’s economy sustainable by building the resilience needed to handle the ups and downs of bigger provincial, national, and global economies.
What is the Economic Development Office?
The City’s Economic Development Office focuses on attracting, retaining, and supporting local businesses and investment, fostering economic growth, and identifying opportunities for collaboration with internal and external partners. Find out more about what we do here.
Community Engagement
Development of the updated Plan will be underpinned by engagement with local residents, the business community, and key interest holders. Engagement activities will include:
- Online surveys - now complete
- Community Survey - those who live, work, and go to school in New Westminster (but not business owners)
- Business & Community Organization Survey - owners and managers of businesses and community organizations
- Community Pop-ups - meet the project team in person to learn more about the Economic Development Plan and share ideas - now complete
- Saturday, February 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Anvil Centre (Love New West)
- Thursday, February 12, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
- Wednesday, February 18, 2:30 – 4:30 pm at Queensborough Community Centre
- Saturday, February 28, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm at Royal City Centre
- Pop-ups at local career fairs
- Interest holder workshops with members of the business community (please note that workshops are invitation only)
- April 14: Local Business Vibrancy and Support
- April 15: Tourism, Arts, Culture and Entertainment
- April 16: Healthcare and Education
- April 17: Industrial Lands
- Small Business Focus Group
- Knowledge sharing with urban Indigenous community members (stay tuned for dates)
- Workshop with the Arts, Culture, and Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Presentation to the Urban Development Institute
Timeline
Phase One – Background Research, Data Gathering and Analysis (Winter 2026)
- Background research on economic trends, such as the changing ways that we work and shop
- Gathering and analysis of local economy data
- Research on the approximate amount of new space New Westminster will need to accommodate jobs for our growing population
Phase Two – Community Engagement (Winter and Spring 2026)
- Engagement with residents, workers, businesses, community organizations, institutions, and other interest holders
- Analysis of feedback
- Reporting back on what we heard
Phase Three – Economic Development Plan Finalization (Summer 2026 to Winter 2027)
- Analysis of community feedback and reporting back on what we heard
- Workshop with City Council
- Development of draft vision, goals, and strategies (draft Economic Development Plan)
- Community engagement on the draft Economic Development Plan
- Presentation to Council of the draft Economic Development Plan and feedback
- Final refinements to draft Economic Development Plan
- Development of final Implementation Plan
- Council presentation of final Economic Development Plan and Implementation Plan
Resources
May 5, 2025 Council Report and Presentation: Economic Development Plan Update – Scope of Work
April 10, 2025 Arts, Culture and Economic Development Advisory Group: Economic Development Strategy – Presentation and Committee Memo | Meeting Minutes
Local Economy Indicators (New Westminster)
Future Forward: An Economic Development Plan for New Westminster, 2018-2023
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