TOL Economic Dev Indicator - Mar 2016

Langley’s Business
2016
March
INSIGHT
The Economic Development Newsletter
Township of Langley Recognized as
One of the Best Cities for Work in BC
The Township accelerated over thirty other cities in British
Columbia, to be ranked sixth in BCBusiness’ annual Best
Cities for Work in BC list!
So what makes a city a good place for work? BCBusiness’
complete article features the data and explains the
economic methodology used in determining the ranking,
including evaluation criteria, such as:
•Average household income
•Education
•Income growth
•Population growth
BC. The videos promote the many opportunities for doing
business in the Township and showcase the incredible
lifestyles that our community has to offer businesses and
their employees.
These videos are a great resource for
you to use in your business meetings
as a means to help your business
grow, seek investors, or expand into
different market places.
And, feel free to mention that the
Township is ranked as the sixth best
city for work in BC.
•Unemployment
Given the quality of life in our six distinct communities,
coupled with our diverse economic base, affordable land,
skilled workforce, and central location in Metro Vancouver,
it’s not surprising to be given this high-level ranking and
recognition on a provincial scale.
Having a diverse, sustainable economy, that covers
over 550 business sectors, including agribusiness, film
production, manufacturing, industrial, and commercial
industries (just to name a few), the Township is positioned
to continue to rank progressively in various social and
demographic characteristics and trends gathered through
BC Stats.
In the third quarter of 2015, we launched two new
promotional videos on our YouTube channel to showcase
why the Township of Langley is the place to do business in
Economic Investment
and Development | What’s on
the Horizon for 2016
Strategically Marketing and Partnering
the Township in 2016
With a new year underway, we continue our work on a
number of activities as part of the Township’s Economic
Development Strategic Plan. Available online through the
Township’s website, this plan is in its fourth year and is due
for review and renewal in 2018.
In addition to delivering the activities stated in the Economic
Development Strategic Plan during 2016, we will be
focussed on:
•generating Insight through a new eNewsletter format
•revitalizing our Business Retention, Expansion,
and Attraction (BREA) marketing materials
•engaging more with the business community through
social media
•partnering with other business organizations to support
and host events, forums, and other beneficial programs,
like, BC Buy Local activities, community Business Walk,
etc
•marketing material revitalization
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•strategically engaging with businesses through a new
internal Customer Relations Management (CRM)
business data repository
An essential part of what we do is to help businesses
succeed in our community. To encourage business owners
to reach out when they need guidance or advice, we’ve
created a dedicated email address: [email protected]. Our
team works with all departments and staff at the Township,
so we are well equipped to find the answer or person your
business needs to contact.
We’re just an email away … feel free to contact us
at [email protected]
New Website Launch 2016
Business Development in the Township made
easier with Mobile-Friendly Site
New Videos Released
Lifestyles and Business Videos showcasing all
that the Township has to offer
Produced by local videographer, photographer, and
composer Jef Gibbons and wife Becca, the Township’s
two new attraction videos were just released in November.
The Business Attraction video as well as the Lifestyles
video succinctly sum up why the Township is the location
destination for business and for families. Featuring local
business owners and a local family, each share in their own
words why they’ve chosen to locate in the Township. Take a
few minutes today to check them out, visit Langley Township
YouTube, and see for yourself what makes this community
unique. Our special thanks to Jef and Becca Gibbons,
and to the local businesses featured in our video: Deloitte;
Stuyvers; Philips; Spa Utopia; Vanilla Clothing, and
Vista D’oro.
Your New Economic
Development Coordinator:
Bob Andrews
Our economic development website is being revitalized
from head-to-toe, and promises to be mobile friendly,
first and foremost, as the content, look, and navigation
undergoes a major enhancement. Existing businesses,
start-ups, and potential investors can find tax information,
business applications, facts, and more at invest.tol.ca.
The new, simple drop-down menus are easy to navigate to:
DISCOVER featuring an overview of the Township, our
business advantages, profiles, and statistics
GROW featuring everything from planning to permits
WORK featuring labour information, career and
employment resources, bid opportunities, and more
LIVE featuring information and links to resources valued by
business’ most valuable asset; their employees
CONNECT featuring links to Township departments and
community organizations for answers on expanding,
developing, or investing in a business
Invest.tol.ca will launch in the second quarter of 2016.
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No stranger to planning and economic development,
Bob Andrews is our newly named Economic Development
Coordinator.
With his new title, Bob’s primary responsibility will continue
to be building and maintaining strong partnerships,
connections, and working relationships with community
partners, agencies, institutions, stakeholder groups, and
businesses within the Township. He is equally responsible
for overseeing ways to encourage exchanges and
cooperative relationships with internal departments at
the Township.
From event planning to marketing material development,
from data collection to statistics generation and analysis,
Bob is the central liaison for Township businesses as well as
the point person for new businesses wanting to set up shop
in the municipality.
Have a question or a concern about business retention,
expansion, or attraction? Bob can assist you directly with
finding the information you need or by connecting you with
other municipal departments or Township organizations that
can. Be sure to contact Bob at [email protected].
BC Buy Local
Business Award Recipients
Sign up your business
and join our 2016 activities
Award-Winning Township Businesses
When we choose to shop at local
businesses, it’s estimated that for
every $100 spent, a total of $46
is recirculated back into the local
economy. Analysing spending further, the Sauder School
of Business and the Columbia Institute calculated in May
2013 that “a 1% increase in BC consumer spending
creates 3,100 jobs and $94 million in annual wages to
BC workers.”
A number of regional and local business organizations
celebrated the works and successes of community
businesses through award-recognition events. Several
businesses within the Township were honoured for their
outstanding work, contributions, and community impact.
We’re happy to continue to celebrate these achievements
and congratulate the following.
Small Business BC Awards
Republica Coffee Roasters – winner of the Best International
Trade Award
According to Vancity’s 2014 Open for Business report,
98% of all businesses in BC are small business. To help
support local small business, which helps to support our
local economy, the Township will continue participating in
year-long activities and outreach initiatives to encourage
residents and visitors to buy local. It’s easy for your
business to get involved.
Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce:
Celebration of Excellence Awards
While specific activities are being finalized, visit our
sign-up portal at tol.ca\BuyLocal and learn how to
participate in local activities and events, receive regular
updates, and download custom-branded campaign badges
and graphics to add to your social media profiles, such as:
Entrepreneur of the Year
Vivid Hair Boutique and Blow Dry Bar
Local Owned
Local owned businesses are private companies (e.g.
single owner or partnership, employee owned,
co-operative or social enterprise/non-profit)
headquartered in BC with more than 50% of owners
residing in BC.
Local Grown
Local grown products are an agricultural product grown
in BC (e.g. food, plants, fibre, wood) or a manufactured
product with more than 50% materials grown in BC.
Local Made
Local made products are products that are wholly or
largely more than 50% manufactured or processed
in BC. This includes products produced without local
materials or ingredients. Local Made products with
local ingredients or materials can add Local Grown
if applicable.
Local Champion
Anyone who purchases from Local-Owned businesses
or buys Local Grown and Local Made products can be
a Local Champion. Let your customers know you value
them as Local Champions.
You can support all things local through your social media
channels. Simply use the hashtag #BCBuyLocal in your
tweets and postings. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to
stay tuned to all BCBuyLocal initiatives in the Township.
Community Impact Award (for-profit)
Diamond Bar Equipment
Community Impact (not-for-profit)
Kimz Angels
Environmental Leadership Award
Laurica Farm
George Preston Memorial Business Person of the Year
Campbell, Burton & McMullan LLP
Large Business of the Year
Leavitt Machinery
Medium Business of the Year
Cloverdale Fuels Ltd.
Service Excellence Award
Pure Form Physiotherapy
Small Business of the Year
Rare Affairs Meeting & Event Planning Services
U40 Business Person of the Year
C&D Logistics
Fraser Valley Commercial Building Awards
Retail/Shopping Centres: Murrayville Corners of Langley
Architects/Designer: Wensley Architecture
Engineer: Weiler Smith Bowers Consultants
General Contractor: RAM Construction Inc.
Mixed Use: Willoughby Kensington of Langley
Owner/Developer: Qualico Chow and Li
Architect/Designer: Chandler Associates Architecture Inc.
Engineers: Weiler Smith Bowers Consultants
General Contractor: The Peak Group of Companies
Office: Fort Professional Building of Fort Langley
Hospitality: McDonald’s Gateway of Langley
Congratulations to all award winners and nominees!
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Hosting Small Business BC’s
Fraser Valley Local Leader
Series: May 2016
Successful business stories start here.
Mark your calendar.
“A leader’s job is not to do the work for others, it’s to help
others figure out how to do it themselves, to get things
done, and to succeed beyond what they thought possible.”
- Simon Sinek
Empowering the businesses of tomorrow starts with
inspiriting stories from today’s real-life business leaders.
For the first time, Small Business BC is holding their Local
Leaders Series in the Fraser Valley.
Hosted by the Township of Langley, we’re pleased to
welcome these local leading entrepreneurs who have taken
a business idea and created a successful business venture:
•Sandee Krause, co-founder of Krause Berry Farms
& Estate Winery
•Emma Jane Davison, owner and cheesemaker of
Golden Ears Cheesecrafters
•Diane Morrison, founder and general manager of
Wendel’s Bookstore & Café, and Wendel’s True Foods
Providing
Business
Advantages
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•Sam Waddington, founder of Mt. Waddington’s
Outdoors, and Chilliwack City Councillor
•Jack Froese, Township of Langley Mayor, and founder of
JD Farms Specialty Turkey
Attendees will have the opportunity to network with
200 other entrepreneurs while enjoying canapés and a
complimentary beer from Old Abbey Ales or a glass of wine
from Chaberton Estate Winery.
In 2015, Small Business BC’s Local Leader Series
featured renowned business leaders, such as Vikram
Vij of Vij’s Restaurant; Brian Scudamore, founder &
CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK; and Tina Lee, CEO of T&T
Supermarket - just to name a few.
Popular and informative, this event sells out each year.
Register today at sbbc.co/LLFV2016.
Survey Thank You
Thank you to all our newsletter subscribers
who completed the January 2016 newsletter
content survey. Your input will help us to better
ensure that we bring you valued business and
economic information as well as resources in
2016 and beyond.
Economic Investment and Development Department
Township of Langley
20338 – 65 Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3J1
604.533.6084
[email protected]
invest.tol.ca
CA16-081