March 17, 2022

Richmond Business (Good) News!

Below is a collection of local news success stories that showcase both innovation and resilience. Don't forget to use the hashtag #RichmondHasHeart when sharing your stories.

• New gelato and dessert store opens in Steveston

• New child care resource website launched by Richmond organization

• Sustainable trucking involves more than electric vehicles alone

• Influential Women in Business Awards: Aisha Yang

• Sandhar Trucking serving Richmond for decades

• Young Richmondite focused on business success

• Japadog opening new location at YVR

• Richmond business offers community scholarship to graduating B.C. students

• Richmond Founded Space Tech Company MDA to Provide Satellite Imagery for International Efforts in Ukraine

Mayor Malcolm Brodie's Annual Address

Richmond: Ensuring a Sustainable Future

Creating and maintaining a sustainable community is more important than ever. The impacts of the pandemic and climate change have presented challenges that require unprecedented planning, innovation and leadership. Sustainability has become about more than just concern for the environment. It also involves ensuring a vibrant economy and appropriate infrastructure for a safe and resilient community while protecting our diverse culture. It is a focus that will remain front and centre for a long time to come.

City of Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie looks back on some of the big issues that impacted our City in 2021, actions taken to support and maintain a sustainable community, and what lies ahead as we move with optimism into another challenging year.

Photo courtesy of Tourism Richmond

Tax renewal boosts local tourism and business in Richmond

A recent Provincial approval for the renewal of the Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) will mean an important boost for the local economy and recovery of the tourism sector in Richmond.

The MRDT, often referred to as the Hotel Tax, is a three per cent charge on the purchase of accommodation within the City under the Municipal and Regional District Tax Program. The BC Ministry of Finance approves implementation and renewal of the tax, which has been in place for a number of years. It recently agreed to a five-year renewal through to 2027.

Around $25 million will come through the MRDT over the next five years to support and grow the visitor economy. 

Webinar -  Organizational Readiness: Building an innovation culture

Join BC Tech Association, the City of Richmond, City of Surrey and Township of Langley for the next #WhatWorks Industry Innovation session.

Technology innovation within industry has immense benefits, but can often be an up-hill battle. How do you create organization readiness to embrace technology and change? During this session, we will hear from a panel of impressive leaders across industry sectors, who will share their key learning and insights.

Panel:

• Andrew Marchant, Accenture
• Lynette DuJohn, YVR
• David Hargreaves, Seaspan
• Dave Cummings, Finning

Canada Digital Adoption Program

How Canadians do business has changed. To stay competitive and grow, small and medium-sized businesses need to adopt new digital tools.

In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced the $4 billion Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help get your business online, give your e-commerce presence a boost or help digitalize your business's operations.

CDAP provides funding and support to businesses, as well as training and work opportunities for young Canadians.

New Plastic Ban Starts March 27

Richmond’s Single-Use Plastic and Other Items Bylaw No. 10000 comes into effect March 27, 2022 and bans: 
·         foam food service ware
·         plastic straws (including biodegradable and compostable plastic)
·         plastic checkout bags (including biodegradable and compostable plastic)
 
The City has developed resources to support local businesses and set them up for success. These materials are posted under Resources for Business at richmond.ca/singleuse. Resource materials include a Business Information Toolkit and customer communication materials.

Supply Chain Resiliency Program Survey

The City of Richmond, City of Surrey, and Township of Langley are working on an exciting joint venture called the Supply Chain Resiliency Program (SCRP). This program is no-cost to you but it will enable us to provide your manufacturing company with:

• potential collaboration opportunities
• support for technology adoption, and
• suggested methods for de-risking future market opportunities