Business growth and jobs on the rise in Vaughan

Vaughan Weekly
March 19, 2014
By Angela Gismondi

The City of Vaughan’s business community is growing.

An update on the City’s Economic Development Strategy report was presented at a meeting of the Priorities and Key Initiatives Committee Monday.

According to the report, the City of Vaughan’s job rate, business growth, lease rates and housing prices are all trending upwards.

At the meeting, economic development staff reported that in 2013, the City reached a milestone and is now home to 10,230 businesses. That translates to a three per cent growth rate from 2012. The latest York Region Employment Survey points to continued growth with a 5.5 per cent increase in the number of jobs in Vaughan last year. There were 186,019 jobs in 2013 compared to 176,296 in 2012, an increase of 9,723 jobs.

The report also provided preliminary results from the City’s 2013 mission to Israel and indicates the mission was highly successful with business, academic and other public-sector participants together generating more than $300 million in economic opportunities.

“The City of Vaughan is positioning itself for continued future economic success, both at home and on a global scale,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua in a release. “Reaching the 10,000-businesses milestone reflects the fact this is a place people want to do business. This growth will result in an improved quality of life and build a better future for the entire community.”

Yesterday (Tuesday), the City announced Regional Councillor Deb Schulte has been appointed as the new chair of the City of Vaughan Priorities and Key Initiatives Committee.

“It is an honour to be appointed chair of the Priorities and Key Initiatives committee,” said Schulte. “The City of Vaughan is committed to planning for the future growth of our community and the many changes it will bring. I look forward to moving a number of our important initiatives forward and continuing the progress of this committee.”

The committee was previously chaired by Councillor Rosanna DeFrancesca.

“I want to express my gratitude to Ward 3 Councillor Rosanna DeFrancesca for her leadership, dedication and commitment to this committee over the past year,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “I also want to thank Regional Councillor Deb Schulte for accepting this new challenge as chair. I am confident she will perform well in her new role and give her very best by remaining true to the principles of respect, accountability and transparency.”

The statutory committee considers matters relating to the key strategic priorities and initiatives of the City. Over the past year the committee has considered a number of important projects including the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct Plan, the corporate asset management strategy and the Vaughan Mills Centre Secondary Plan study. The committee has also reviewed and offered input on a number of the City’s master plans including Green Directions (the Environmental Master Plan) and Active Together.

“As a growing city and one that continues to evolve and transform, it is vital that we sustain the forward momentum that has been established,” Bevilacqua stated. “We are building a great city in Vaughan. It has been through the work of this committee that we have been able to focus on the key priorities and initiatives that will continue to contribute to our growth and elevation to a world-class city.”