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Mr. Paul Holden, President and CEO, Ms.
Leza Muir, Director and Chair, Board of Governors, and Mr. Cory
Redekop, Manager – Policy and Events, Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT), appeared
before the Committee outlining the important economic development
achievements over the past year and noting the many initiatives that have
been supported throughout Burnaby.
Mr. Holden provided an overview of
the Chamber’s vision and mission statements, as well as highlighted the
organization’s strategic objectives.
The speaker noted that the BBOT is
playing an integral role in the City of Burnaby’s Economic Development
Strategy (EDS), and many initiatives outlined in the EDS are implemented by
the BBOT. The key activities include:
·
collaboration
with the City of Burnaby (i.e. membership on many committees, literature with
information on business licensing, events);
·
new
business recruitment and retention (i.e. economic development staff training,
BC Economic Development Agency membership, sector-specific events and
promotions, area-specific surveying);
·
focus
on small business;
·
Business
Resource Centre; and
·
Economic
Development Portal.
Mr. Redekop advised that the BBOT
developed a central resource to house economic data and other important
information that had been previously available on various different sites and
documents. The City has embraced open data and made a wide variety of
information publicly available through its Open Data Portal. The BBOT is
proposing to utilize the City’s open data to make the economic development
information it provides far more robust, current, and consumable, and to
proactively make that data available to new, existing, and prospective
businesses. The BBOT is further proposing to partner with a third party
provider of accessible economic development data, such as LocalIntel, to
develop a “Business Intelligence Engine”.
The “Business Intelligence Engine”
will allow Burnaby to promote its strengths, share market intelligence and
support local business growth by providing data and information which
businesses and entrepreneurs can use (i.e. key economic data, demographic
information, map of development, etc.) in an easy-to-access format. The
“Business Intelligence Engine” will feature a suite of tools which bring
together location and market data, GIS technology, powerful analytics and
advanced user experience to provide key market intelligence. LocalIntel
provides up to 12 widgets, and each widget provides different information
(i.e. business climate, zoning, environment, workforce, facilities,
transportations, utilities, etc.). Each widget costs $2,000 per year (licence
fee) or up to $12,000 per year for a suite of 12 widgets.
The speaker noted that elements of
the LocalIntel system are currently used by a number of towns, cities,
countries, and economic development organizations, i.e. Town of Smithers,
City of New Westminster, City of Seattle, and Edmonton Economic Development
Corporation.
Arising from the presentation, the
Committee introduced the following motion:
MOVED BY COUNCILLOR JORDAN
SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL
THAT staff report back on the
advisability and feasibility of an initiative advanced by the Burnaby Board
of Trade.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Holden highlighted the BBOT’s
involvement in the City’s Social Sustainability Strategy (SSS). The BBOT’s
Social Development Committee addresses areas such affordable housing,
immigrant integration, as well as socially-sustainable and family friendly
workplaces. Their Access Student Career Development addresses important economic
issues and provides students with the connections and tools they need to
compete in the job market, while providing local businesses with access to
top young talent. Over 300 post-secondary students have been mentored
through the program since 2012.
Mr. Holden advised that the BBOT
supports the City’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS) by
sustainable business practices, annual Green Talks! event, and Pledge for a
Sustainable Community initiative.
In conclusion, Mr. Holden provided
an overview of the BBOT’s working committees, innovative programs, and list
of events organized by the organization. The speaker thanked the City for
the ongoing support and strong working relationship with the BBOT.
Arising from discussion, the
Committee introduced the following motion:
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