Mayor Richard Stewart got some good news just in time for Christmas with a new study ranking Coquitlam as one of the best cities in the province to live and work.
The list of Best Cities for Work in B.C., published by BC Business magazine, ranks Coquitlam third, with Port Coquitlam 13th and Port Moody not ranked because it is considered a bedroom community.
In the data collected and compiled by Environics Analytics for the magazine, Coquitlam scored 57.20 out of 100 for having:
high income growth (12.99% per household over five years);
a high average household income ($93,377);
and other positive indicators, including population growth, unemployment, labour participation, transit usage and education.
Only the northern boomtown of Fort St. John and the district of North Vancouver ranked higher, with Prince Rupert, number 37, at the bottom.
Stewart said the ranking was not surprising given that the city has worked hard on job creation and has a highly educated, employable population.
"Obviously, we're very pleased to see the numbers turn out that way. We have been working hard on a number of the criteria that were used in this methodology," Stewart said, noting the establishment of a Tri-City-wide mobile business licence, the reduction of the number of industrial zones and the lowering of business taxes.
But he said he would like to see foreign credentials be more accepted, transit improvements completed and more streamlining of procedures at city hall.
At left, Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore.
Although Port Coquitlam didn't make it into the top 10 rankings, Mayor Greg Moore said the numbers show the city isn't far behind Coquitlam as a good place to live in work, with perhaps the lack of transit being one of the major barriers.
"When I break out the numbers, the difference between Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam, our neighbours, are three points," Moore said, noting that he was pleased to see PoCo rank high in income growth, with a low unemployment rate and high participation rates for eligible workers.
"When you break it apart, there are some great statistics," Moore said.
He noted as well that the city is working hard on job creation and protecting industrial and employment lands in the city, and was recently recognized with the 2014 Open for Business Award from the B.C. Small Business Roundtable.
Overall, the BC Business ranking is good news for the Tri-Cities and speaks well of how the cities are working together to promote business, jobs and strong communities, said the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce's executive director, Michael Hind.
"I think it's flattering," Hind said. "I think it sends the message that the region is a growing region where people want to live and work and with the SkyTrain coming, it can only get better."
