Building Maple Ridge’s Economic Future
What type of jobs do we want to encourage in our community?
On the national level, we sometimes hear discussions about Canada’s “Balance of Trade” or “International Trade Deficit” to describe the net difference between the goods and services we export vs. those that we import. A trade surplus is a good thing for Canada because a net outflow of goods and services means a net inflow of money, increasing the overall wealth of Canadians. That same concept can be applied to a province or even a municipality.
A retail store that sell products made elsewhere, although necessary to support the community, actually results in money leaving our community. A manufacturing or service industry that sells to customers outside the region results in money coming into our community. In order to have a trade surplus and increase wealth for Maple Ridge residents we simply need to have more growth in manufacturing and service industries than the growth in retail stores [Oversimplifying a little bit. Maple Ridge residents, especially the youth, need to have access to appropriate education to be qualified for these jobs]. Manufacturing and service industry jobs also often require a higher level of education and/or technical expertise. As a result, these jobs tend to pay higher wages.
Maple Ridge was named the 2010 #5 Top Canadian Investment City by the Real Estate Investment Network and work is already being done to promote investment in Maple Ridge. We need to make sure we are knocking on the right doors to attract businesses that will not only benefit from, but provide benefit to, our Maple Ridge community. This can mean actively marketing Maple Ridge to larger established companies, possibly using tax incentives, to convince them to relocate to Maple Ridge. A longer term vision includes promoting ourselves as a worthwhile location for small business, and putting programs in place to assist with nurturing and growing these businesses.
Where do we want these businesses to locate?
These companies and their well-paid employees are potential customers for retail business in Maple Ridge so we want them to locate in areas already zoned for business use and close to existing shopping areas. This makes it convenient for employees working at these companies to spend money in Maple Ridge, and support local business. When we have growth in manufacturing and service industry jobs, we create a stronger customer base for retail and, as a result, we will also see greater choices for shopping in Maple Ridge.
Having new business development in areas already zoned for business use costs the municipality less money because the infrastructure to support that development (such as water and sewer) already exists in those areas. If we are using tax incentives to encourage business to locate in our community we don’t want to have to dissuade them with significant development charges due to locating in an area that does not have this infrastructure already available, nor do we want to create a situation where property taxes need to be increased to cover these costs.
What is possible?
I am am excited about the potential for positive growth in Maple Ridge, providing local well-paying jobs in our community and am interested in hearing your ideas about how we can encourage this growth. If you are currently commuting to work outside Maple Ridge, what incentives might convince your employer to re-locate here? What type of new business development would result in a local job for you?
Alex, I almost totally agree with you, more jobs and industry are needed in Maple Ridge. However I must disagree with one point you’ve made.
“A retail store that sell products made elsewhere, although necessary to support the community, actually results in money leaving our community.”
It results in SOME money leaving the community. Assuming the products (not services) are imported from elsewhere, the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS, to the accountants/economists) the wholesale cost does leave the community.
People are going to shop. Be it here in Maple Ridge or across a bridge in a neighboring community. And a fact about retail is shoppers want choices, they want to browse, and they want big box names.
There is however A great deal of financial benefit that will stay in the community by having the stores here. Rent on the physical space. Property taxes, and commercial tax rates tend to be higher then residential on a per square foot basis. Of course utility bills which include a component towards capital infrastructure. And then there are the jobs! Any jobs in the community, even low paying part time, is better then no job. When we are talking about NEW retail development that is really the comparison to make.
We are not talking about shutting down one commercial operation to build a new one with half the jobs at half the pay. We are talking about creating new jobs and opportunities. Often the debate is around using land that is earmarked for agriculture. The irony is the land hasn’t product a single fruit or vegetable in at least 30 years. And realistically never will.
There is also the obvious benefits to our transportation infrastructure. Not that new retail means better and bigger roads and bridges. But it does equate to those working and shopping in the community commuting less. Putting far less demand on the roads and bridges and public transit we have.
Every community around us has embraced retail development, it’s time Maple Ridge does too.
Agree with your point.. SOME money leaving the community… And there are definitely benefits to having local shopping.
I happen to think we already have a lot of great retail shops in Maple Ridge ~ it isn’t often I can’t find what I want locally. But I occasionally do head across a bridge, or to the internet, to find a specific product so a greater diversity of retail would be an asset.
The important point is that there is a greater financial benefit to our community by having manufacturing and service industries than retail… and to convince those businesses to locate here, we need to market ourselves effectively.
If we are successful in attracting manufacturing and service industries we will increase the number of residents who work locally and have money in their pockets to shop locally. As the local customer base grows, so will our retail choices.
I could have written Allen’s post, I absolutely agree. Not only do we need to create a variety of more jobs in the community, but I feel that diversifying our tax base so commercial taxes make up a greater percentage than residential in MR is imperative. As a one-year resident of Maple Ridge, I am disappointed to see wild residential development in Silver Valley and Albion but little to no attempt to encourage businesses that provide services to these residents. The area schools are overloaded and turning away children who live in the catchment. I can’t walk to the nearest store- getting goods or services means getting in my car.
I agree that we need to be selective about what kind of businesses we attract here, but we also must remember there is a give and take. We can’t expect to have businesses that benefit only our region. If we have retail that sell products made outside of our region, supporting someone else’s economy can create goodwill and the opportunity to do future business with and benefit from others.
Really looking forward to seeing some change with new people in local government in Maple Ridge! It’s all about liveability. Create jobs so people can work close to home, reducing commutes and reliance on cars; bring more money to the community; ease the tax burden on taxpayers; and create options where people can walk or bike to local enterprises that provide the goods and services that they need locally.
This is a great blog, glad i have come across it ! I love it here in Maple Ridge, a resident nearly 30 years now I have seen a lot of new growth. Maple Ridge has changed for the better in a lot of different ways and as much as it pains me to say it but, the latest incentives by our local district hall to encourage revitalization of our downtown core are a good thing.
Everyone wants more jobs locally, the trick is to create more jobs but better jobs !
Rebecca is right about the urban sprawl in Silver Valley and Albion, all anyone has to do is read the OCP regarding river village and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that things there have been run a muck.
Our local leaders should create some incentives to help developers build commercial areas in our so called eco-clusters !
A few more corner stores, some strip malls and some more schools outside of the downtown core wouldn’t hurt anyone.
It’s not a perfect world, it never is but we did have a plan once re; OCP and river village, have we abandoned that vision altogether ?
It seems so.
I don’t think a change in our elected officials is reaaly going to change things for the better any.
We the citizens have to stand up and demand it, peacefully….lol