The Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce has a new fee-for-service agreement with the City of Pitt Meadows that will provide an additional $18,000 per year.

The three-year agreement was unanimously supported by city council at an April 1 meeting.

Council heard that in 2024 the Chamber had provided the city with a hiring fair, an online business directory, and is creating an information package for prospective new businesses in Pitt Meadows. That was under the terms of a $12,000 agreement for one year.

The new arrangement will see the Chamber maintain the business directory, support the annual hiring fair, and have a new business support role  – a person who will welcome new businesses and connecting with existing businesses on behalf of the city. They will also deliver other business support initiatives as prioritized by the city and chamber.

Councillors spoke in favour of the new deal, with Gwen O'Connell saying it's a good way to support Pitt Meadows businesses without needing city employees.

"For the amount of money being discussed here, I think it's going to add a lot of benefit to the community," echoed Coun. Bob Meachen. "I think it's money well spent."

"The Chamber of Commerce under Kristi Maier's leadership over the last two and a half years has just ballooned and it is a mighty machine," said Mayor Nicole MacDonald. "The creativity and the passion is there."

She also said the deal is a great value for the city.

The City of Maple Ridge has a fee-for-service agreement with the Chamber that provides $57,500 per year.

READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.mapleridgenews.com/local-news/city-of-pitt-meadows-signs-new-deal-with-chamber-of-commerce-7959316