News & Updates

The website for EDCO's 60th Annual Conference and Showcase is now live! Check it out and stay tuned for more exciting details! 

EDCO 2017 takes you out of the office and puts you in the driver’s seat to engage with industry leaders and colleagues on critical issues facing economic developers.  This year’s Conference addresses an essential theme, Ontario’s Economy…Driven by Innovation.  The program features keynote presentations by distinguished experts and relevant, highly-practical and interactive workshops focussed on real-world challenges that are designed to spark new ideas, inspiration and energy. 

Registration coming soon!

On Thursday, October 27th, EDCO will be hosting its first “Out and About with EDCO”, event in Eastern Ontario. This evening event will engage and showcase Ontario East Economic Development Organizations, thanks to our Partner Eastern Ontario Regional Network with presentations by the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, Ontario East Economic Development Commission, the Peterborough Economic Development, the Innovation Cluster, and the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.

Warden Jones, Mayor Bennett, Minister Leal and Minister Monsef  have been invited to showcase their great County. 

Please consider joining us for an interactive night highlighting the best that Eastern Ontario has to offer.  

Event Details

Venue: The Venue, 286 George Street North, Peterborough, ON K9J 3H2

Time: 5-7pm 

Cost: $20 (pre-payment and registration required)

Cash bar

Appetizers provided 

Register online today!

Attention EDCO Members

The EDCO Investment Alliance is determining the level of interest of municipalities to participate in an international out-bound mission to promote Ontario investment opportunities, and meet with companies to bring new businesses to our region. 

• The possibility of the UK pulling out of the Euro zone, now realized!
• Potential break-up of the European Union;
• Flat or negative growth for many European countries;
• Strain on countries resources from displaced refugees; and
• Uncertainty of the outcome of the US election. 

Given recent events, many investors are looking to shelter funds and move them to secure jurisdictions with steady growth projections. Now is the time for Ontario to step up and self-promote! 

The cost to participate at MIPIM 2017 (March 14-17) is $5,000 per municipality which includes:

• one complementary 4-day MIPIM conference registration valued at $2,250 CDN; 
  
• access to the Toronto, Ontario, Canada booth; 
  
• opportunity to work with a lead generation company to set up private meetings;
  
• ability to network with Ontario’s Senior Economic Officer based at the Canadian Embassy in Paris;
  
• opportunity to participate in a network marketing event;
  
• access to the MIPIM on-line investor meeting and networking portal; plus
  
• other marketing activities to be determined. 
  

If you have any questions, please contact Heather LaLonde at edco@edco.on.ca.  The deadline to confirm interest is August 24th, 2016.   

Please note the MIPIM participation fee does not include travel costs, accommodation, food and other travel related expenses.

Request for Proposals

Review of Economic Development Investments and Best Practices for Sault Ste. Marie

 (File # 2016CAO-01-P)

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is requesting proposals to conduct a study to review its economic development initiatives and investments; and provide recommendations and best practices that should be employed to maximize the results of these initiatives and investments for the City. 

Proposals are due and will be accepted no later than 4:00 o'clock p.m., local time (Eastern), Friday August 19, 2016.

Proponents should address any questions regarding technical information or clarification of the Terms of Reference to Mr. Don McConnell, Planning Director, telephone 705-759-5375 or by email to d.mcconnell@cityssm.on.ca.

Should you want to submit a Proposal for this requirement, a copy of the RFP document may be obtained by contacting the City of Sault Ste. Marie Purchasing office at 705-759-5299 or by email to purchasing@cityssm.on.ca

Rural property owners and farmers appear to be experiencing more difficulty following the Ontario Building Code. 

Please reply to Clark Hoskin with your experience about 

(1) Are you witnessing increased Health Unit focus on Building Code violations when they are inspecting bunkhouses or other farm buildings? 

(2) Are your builders and contractors up-to-speed on Ontario Building Code changes are they increasingly trying to get Building Inspectors to provide suggestions? 

(3) Are your farmers having a positive experience with your Building Dept when they undertake their own building construction? 

You feedback is very welcome!

Message from EDCO President, John Regan: 

Please join me in welcoming Karen Jopling of Peterborough County to our Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Board in an interim position.

Karen has been in the field of Economic Development for ten years and she has experienced great value in networking, collaborating, sharing best practices and challenges with a cross section of economic developers and sectors. She enjoys the challenge of learning new techniques and different ways of implementing knowledge based strategies.

She is a high energy, creative, big picture, and strategic thinking person. Karen's strength is her personality and the ability to build relationships and engage with diverse businesses and people.

Karen will be working on our Partnership Building Committee alongside Blair Patacairk.  Please connect with Karen M. Jopling via LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and any member of our Board.  

Together, we can build strong economic developers; Advance the Economic Development Profession and ultimately, work to build a stronger Ontario Economy!

Thank you to our current board members, find them here and give them a follow too.

http://www.edco.on.ca/Board-of-Directors

Last Wednesday at YPNO's Bi-Monthly Members call YPNO unveiled the ‘Get Recognized’ Campaign. They would like to thank and recognize the hard work of young professionals and networks across the province of Ontario and have introduced Young Professional of the Month & Young Professional Network of the Quarter. 

You may begin sending nomination in for both/either or award, people have been sending in nominations already for September, when they will officially begin awarding recipients. 

Award nominations may be sent to info@ypnontario.com along with questions/comments/concerns. Please share amongst your community and networks! Let’s have fun with this initiative, bring awareness and raise our young professionals profile.

Eligibility: A member or affiliated member of The Young Professionals Network of Ontario in good standing. Represent their respective community in a professional manner and conduct business in an ethical fashion.

Nomination Process: Young Professionals and Young Professional Networks can be nominated or nominate themselves. The awards are available to member or affiliated members of the YPNO.

Judging: Based on 4 categories; Professional Achievements, Leadership Abilities, Community Involvement and Uniqueness. Winners determined by YPNO board of directors.

In 2017, Canada will celebrate its 150th anniversary. As a founding province, Ontario is joining the celebration with new funding, events and programs. 

There are three application-based Ontario150 grant programs. They include:

• The Community Capital Program — a $25 million fund to renovate, repair and retrofit existing community and cultural infrastructure to increase access, improve safety and maximize community use (application period opens July 18 and closes September 14, 2016);
  
• The Partnership Program — a $5 million program to support new partnerships and collaborations that engage, enable and empower youth as the next generation of Ontario leaders (application period opens July 6 and closes September 30, 2016);
  
• And the Community Celebration Program —a $7 million fund to help communities celebrate this historic year (application period opens July 6 and closes September 2, 2016).
  

For more information on how your community can participate, please visit:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario150 

• Are your goods moving internationally? Have The Essentials With You

Training in The Essentials offers you the awareness and knowledge needed to ensure your products travel safely and are protected while in transit to or from overseas. Make sure The Essentials are an integral part of your success in the international market.

Available in 1.5-hour online webinars over two days from 1:00PM to 2:30PM EDT each day. Webinars are facilitated by industry practitioners with extensive and practical work experience. Register Online.

Date                                                                      Webinar Title

August 9-10, 2016                                                 Incoterms® 2010

August 16-17, 2016                                               Transborder: Shipping to the USA

November 8-9, 2016                                              Essentials of Exporting

November 22-23, 2016                                          Letters of Credit

December 6-7, 2016                                             Cargo Insurance

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry have posted a Request for Proposal to update the Economic Development Strategic Plan on the Biddingo.com website.

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is the upper tier level of government consisting of six lower tier municipalities being the Township of North Stormont, Township of South Stormont, Township of North Dundas, Township of South Dundas, Township of North Glengarry and Township of South Glengarry. 

For full details of the RFP due on July 28, 2016, please click here.