Chamber of Commerce
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Jamie Hunter introduced Jamie Smythe, economic development manager for the Southern Georgian Bay C of C, and Jocelyn Riggins, the NSFDC co-ordinator.
Jamie reported that the C of C had received Industry Canada funding to do a multi sector analysis leading to developing an approach to attracting and retaining industry in our area. They interviewed 98 businesses and used the data to define an economic vision.
The Midland area has a strong manufacturing base, with a higher than average percentage of people employed there and with the area's broad range of products and new companies, like Doral, the prospect is good. Health care is also well represented, but Retail, Accommodation and Tourism is lower than the national average, even though the area is the third greatest attractor of visitors, after Niagara and Toronto.
Jamie reported that the C of C had received Industry Canada funding to do a multi sector analysis leading to developing an approach to attracting and retaining industry in our area. They interviewed 98 businesses and used the data to define an economic vision.
The Midland area has a strong manufacturing base, with a higher than average percentage of people employed there and with the area's broad range of products and new companies, like Doral, the prospect is good. Health care is also well represented, but Retail, Accommodation and Tourism is lower than the national average, even though the area is the third greatest attractor of visitors, after Niagara and Toronto.
The Vision that emerged requires that all sectors work together to maximise economic benefits in the region, using the area's unique industrial, institutional, retail, tourism and recreation base in a financially, environmentally and socially sustainable manner.
Over the next 20 years the aim is to create about 190 net new jobs per year.
There are four priority issues - Infrastructure and Environmental Protection, Business Retention and Expansion, Investment Attraction and Tourism and Recreation Development.
Each issue has several goals and some are more rapidly achievable than others, but it creates a strong plan for the future.
The Chamber's strategy is to focus on: inclusiveness - working with all the municipalities, service clubs and cultural groups; to invite discussion and review; to monitor and evaluate; to achieve measurable results and to examine in light of Census information as it becomes available.
Over the next 20 years the aim is to create about 190 net new jobs per year.
There are four priority issues - Infrastructure and Environmental Protection, Business Retention and Expansion, Investment Attraction and Tourism and Recreation Development.
Each issue has several goals and some are more rapidly achievable than others, but it creates a strong plan for the future.
The Chamber's strategy is to focus on: inclusiveness - working with all the municipalities, service clubs and cultural groups; to invite discussion and review; to monitor and evaluate; to achieve measurable results and to examine in light of Census information as it becomes available.