Calling all businesses: Coquitlam building online platform for foreign and domestic companies

Coquitlam wants to let the world know it’s open for business. But it’s going to take a digital revamp first.

On April 8, city council unanimously approved a plan to set aside $43,000 from the economic development reserve to spur the launch of a new website and digital marketing strategy aimed at attracting domestic and international businesses to Coquitlam. 

The allocation matches funding the city recently received from the federal government.

Last fall, Coquitlam successfully applied for a $43,000 grant from the CanExport Community Investments Program, an initiative that helps local governments and organizations attract foreign direct investment (FDI). 

The City of Port Moody also received $12,500 from the investment program.

Prior to applying for the grant, there was a strong push from local businesses to have a new online location to promote their product and gain exposure, said Eric Kalnins, Coquitlam’s manager of economic development. 

“We didn’t have anywhere to put that,” he said. “The city website is not really meant for that, it’s for swim lessons, council meetings, garbage schedules.” 

The funding announcements, totalling $86,000, comes nearly one year after council adopted an economic development strategy with a five-year plan to grow and stabilize the city’s local economy. 

One of the items from that plan was to promote local businesses and create promotional material for foreign companies that may be looking to set up shop in Coquitlam, Kalnins said. 

The cities of Surrey and Calgary both have strong business platforms that Coquitlam may be looking to draw from, he added. 

“We have the visitor perspective, we have the municipal perspective, but what about for business?” said Kalnins, adding that the city is looking to make it easier for film companies interested in shooting in Coquitlam.

“We want to have film location information, maybe in blogs on filming in Coquitlam, we don’t really have anywhere to park that. . . . We want a central depository for this information.” 

At a council meeting on April 8, Coun. Steve Kim echoed the importance of having a strong online messaging platform to promote local companies and the business potential in Coquitlam.  

“When I think about the Coquitlam brand and our ability to tell that story and extend that brand message outward, it’s critical,” he said. 

Edward Tain, a business growth manager at the city, said that staff are looking to explore grants that will allow more foreign businesses to visit Coquitlam. But he said that the city is looking to roll out its new business-focused website first. 

The city is expected to issue a request for proposal and hire a local company work on the site. 

The goal is to have the platform up and running by early 2025, Kalnins said.