2024 Annual Report-web FINAL

Strategic Priority Goals • Attract, retain and expand business investment to diversify the tax base and increase local employment. • Expand training and educational options in Maple Ridge to build a skilled workforce that attracts innovative businesses. • Explore and maximize tourism opportunities as a means to further diversify the local economy. Strategic Priority Diversified, Thriving Economy

2024 Activities

2025 Goals

Attract, Retain, and Expand Business Investment • Completed review of business licensing process. Identified improvements are expected to reduce processing time from six to two days for new business licences. • Launched electrification kiosk at the Waterfront Railway film location to stimulate productions and reduce climate impacts from film productions. • Increased awareness of Maple Ridge as an attractive destination to do business through increased branding and promotions. • Supported businesses to capitalize on the Maple Ridge 150th events and the BC Summer Games in 2024. Maximize Tourism Opportunities • Developed tourism-focused events attraction strategy. Expand Training and Educational Options • Commenced engagement with key partners and completed a review of the potential to establish post-secondary institutions or satellite campus in Maple Ridge.

Attract, Retain, and Expand Business Investment • Finalize and implement the Investment Strategy to target attraction of businesses suited to the future growth of the community. • Further improve business licensing processes to enable the processing of 20% more applications annually. • Implement Climate Action Plan actions focused on building resiliency in existing agricultural businesses and encouraging more low carbon businesses to operate in Maple Ridge. • Establish a Tech Hub in Maple Ridge to support technology driven businesses and start ups. • Implement additional activities that support business retention and expansion. Maximize Tourism Opportunities • Launch implementation of the new tourism-focused events attraction strategy. • Maintain a focus on agri-tourism and eco-tourism to attract visitors to the community and stimulate economic activity. • Increase film-based tourism by 10%.

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