Port Coquitlam shoppers wanting to keep their dollars on home turf now have an online tool to look for local businesses.
This week, the city officially unveiled Shop PoCo — an alphabetized database of companies with a valid PoCo business license that's split into sectors: From advertising to video services.
Last year, PoCo issued more than 3,400 permits to restaurants, contractors, manufacturers, retailers and warehouse operators, among others.
City spokesperson Pardeep Purewal said the municipality has had good feedback since Shop PoCo had its soft launch last November at the Best Biz Awards gala.
The director is a result of the Business Development Opportunities Task Force in 2013 and aims to spur economic growth.
The program cost was minimal, Purewal said, as existing city data, technology and staff resources were used.
And Shop PoCo is different from other business databases in other Metro Vancouver jurisdictions as it offers a real-time search on current information, she said.
Still, not all companies are detailed: Addresses of home-based businesses are protected for privacy reasons.
Meanwhile, PoCo businesses that don't see their name online can call the city's business licensing division at 604-927-5238 or email [email protected].
• Visit portcoquitlam.ca/shoppoco.
