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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN-22-95 J 11 E C R MTION OF TIE MICIPALITY OF CLARIbM REPORT General Purpose and Administration Committee Meeting: File# Monday, July 10, 1995 Gate: Res. #_C'' '116-�75. ADMIN-22-95 Ry-Law# Report#:_ File #: Subject: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY UPDATE Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report ADMIN-22-95 be received for information. 1. PURPOSE C 1.1 This report summarizes the activities of the Economic Development Office for the period May 1 - June 2, 1995. 2. ACTIVITY UPDATE i 2.1 Information Requests A total of twenty-seven requests for information were serviced by the office during this I period. Requests for development information from existing businesses and the general public represented the majority of requests (17). Eight requests for information about starting a new business and two requests for commercial & industrial space information were also serviced during this period. PP , EYE R1SIS 1n tlI 6DO4 PCOVC PAfE1 Report ADMIN-22-95 Page 2 2.2 Community/Government Liaison The Economic Development Officer met with Clarington's Economic Development Liaison Team for their monthly meeting. The Economic Development Liaison Team consists of representatives from each of Clarington's industrial/commercial sectors. The Team meets on a regular basis to discuss economic development issues of common concern to our community. The Economic Development Officer and Purchasing Manager hosted a meeting of representatives of the City of Oshawa's Purchasing and Economic Development departments. Together with the Oshawa & District Chamber of Commerce, staff are co-ordinating a "Doing Business with Government" trade show, scheduled for September 28, 1995. The objective of the show is to help local businesses to become more aware of sales opportunities with government agencies and to provide them with an opportunity to market their product to Purchasing staff. i Staff of the Economic Development Office also participated in the Oshawa & District Chamber of Commerce Corporate Challenge. Representatives of seventy-five corporations participated in this event which also raised food donations for local food banks. Three meetings involving the Greater Toronto Area Economic Development Partnership were attended in May. The partnership is currently implementing its sector strategies. Clarington's economic development officer chairs the GTA Environment Committee and also participates in the Automotive and Plastics committees. Staff of the Economic Development Office participated in planning meetings for the Waterfront Trail Official Launch. This event, held on June 1, drew many citizens as Mr. David Crombie walked Clarington's portion of the trail. The Economic Development Officer also attended the public SWOT meeting of Durham Region's Economic Development Advisory Committee. This committee has been established to develop a strategic economic development plan for Durham region. i 1112 Report ADMIN-22-95 Page 3 Co-operation with neighbouring Durham Region economic development offices continues. The regional economic development offices are currently exploring areas where participating municipalities can share in joint economic development and tourism marketing. 2.3 Trade Show Marketiniz May was an active month for economic development trade shows. The office joined other Durham economic development offices to attend P1ast*Ex '95, May 1 - 4. This show is i held once every three years and is the largest Canadian plastics exhibition. 310 exhibitors attracted over 8,000 attendees. The Toronto Environmental Trade Show was held May 9 - 10. The office participated on its own at this show. 130 exhibitors attracted over 4,800 attendees. 18 requests for further information on Clarington from both shows are currently being pursued by the office. IDRC, the International Development Research Council, held its annual Congress in Toronto May 13 - 17. IDRC is the largest association of corporate real estate executives. Through co-operation with the Greater Toronto Area Economic Development Partnership and other Durham Region Economic Development offices, staff attended three events during the Congress: its Opening Gala; an Ontario Investment Service (OIS) presentation; and a Site I Location seminar. Information gathering was the major benefit of attending the Congress. Both the OIS presentation and the Site Location Seminar included presentations on the strengths and weaknesses of locating a business in the Greater Toronto Area versus other U.S. urban centres. The information collected will be used by the office to better service future site location requests. I In addition to trade event marketing, one business visitation was made in May. Visitations occur on a regular basis in order to gather information of importance to the business community and to outline the services of the office. The Economic Development Officer met with management at Powerscreen and toured their Bowmanville facility. 103 REPORT-ADMIN-22-95 Page 4 2.4 Known New Businesses The economic development office became aware of two new businesses during this period. Shoe City opened a retail outlet in the Bowmanville Mall. NARRA, the North American Recycled Rubber Association opened its headquarters on Baseline Road. 2.5 Other Staff of the Economic Development Office have been participating in the Total Quality Management sessions provided for municipal staff. The Economic Development Officer also attended Year 2 of the Economic Development Program at the University of Waterloo during the last week of May. I 3. SUMMARY A summary of the month's activities is charted below. Further information concerning j this report is available by contacting the Economic Development Officer. j Activity Frequency Commercial/Industrial Space Requests: 2 Business Formation Requests: g Business Information/Public Requests: 17 Community/Business Group Meetings: 2 Industrial Tours/Visits: 1 Commercial/Tourism Visits: p Government Consultations: 6 1 q4 i REPORT-ADMIN-22-95 Page 5 4. RECOMMENDATIONS That Report ADMIN-22-95 be received for information. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Todd Letts, M.B.A. W. H. Stockwell Economic Development Officer Chief Administrative Officer TL/lb 5council.061 i i I I I i I