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204 205 which is owned by local businessman Chris- tian Chia. Together, they have invested over $70 million in the automotive sector, selling and servicing Acura, Audi, Aston Martin, Bent- ley, BMW, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, and Volvo vehicles, in an industry that provides many high-paying jobs. The City of Langley’s interests do not stop at the local or national levels. Recently the City invested with the Bank of China, making it the first Canadian municipal government to deposit funds with the financial institution. “This investment demonstrates a significant step to open the lines of communication in our community, increasing exposure and encouraging business investment opportuni- ties for the City of Langley through the Bank of China (Canada) business partners,” notes Mayor Schaffer. “We hope that this initiative will encourage positive relationships and future business partnerships between local LANGLEY CITY, BRITISH COLUMBIA entrepreneurs and foreign investors, not only for our city but for the region as a whole.” With more than 550 employees, Cascades Casino Resort (Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd.) drives the economy from its highly popular three-component facility in downtown Langley City, featuring a casino, a hotel, and a city-owned convention center that seats up to 500 people. “Over the last 11 years, as a host local govern- ment to our casino, we’ve received approximately $80 million in revenue that we’ve poured into in- frastructure. People don’t see that – sewers, roads, sidewalks –but that’s where the money goes,” states Mayor Schaffer. “We look after the dollars because we are stewards of the community. It’s not our money. Bottom line is we are a debt-free community because we’re fiscally responsible.” Langley City offers many incentives to stimulate growth and attract businesses, among them an abundance of affordable, full-serviced industrial land, modest business licence fees, extremely competitive development cost charges, and some of the most favorable industrial and commercial tax rates in British Columbia. In fact, the City is consistently acknowledged as having the most efficient and streamlined development processes in the Metro Vancouver region– it recognizes that time means money. Schaffer notes, “We keep our taxes at a low, reasonable level, and work with in- dustry to encourage development within our light industrial area. Our downtown core has wonder- fully unique shops and few, if any, vacancies.We are pioneers in nurturing joint ventures between public and private sectors, including a Triple P