2012 Economic Development Activities Middlesex County Council - - PDF document

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2012 Economic Development Activities

Middlesex County Council Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Aileen Murray Ec.D. (F) Manager of Economic Development Middlesex County amurray@investinmiddlesex.ca 519‐434‐7321 x 2347

Germany Mission

www.investinmiddlesex.ca 2

3 cities in 6 days

Goals

• Support existing businesses
• Create awareness of

Middlesex County

• Support investment

attraction activities

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Frankfurt

www.investinmiddlesex.ca 3

Thursday, November 15 Hit the ground running.

• Landed 8:00 am.
• First meeting 11:00

Armatec Strategic Partners

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Thursday, November 15

• Toured manufacturing
• perations
• Introduced Middlesex

County

• Supported Armatec growth

plan discussions

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MEDICA Nov. 16, 17

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• The world’s largest medical trade show
• Over 4,500 exhibitors from over 70 counties
• Meetings with the federal, provincial government, strategic partners

MEDICA with Diagnostics Biochem Canada

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Provincial & Federal Reps & Strategic Partners

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Canadian Embassy, Berlin

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Monday, Nov. 19

• Introduction to Middlesex

County

• Meetings with Sector

Specialists

• Business Leader Reception

Tuesday, Nov. 20

• Separate meetings with

Armatec & DBC Strategic Partners

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Strategic Partners Meetings

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Canadian Embassy, Berlin

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“We are following up on issues related to both companies and will advise them and you of the results of our efforts and any advice to offer. We have a deeper understanding of the advantages of investing in the Middlesex region and we are confident that a foreign investor will receive high‐quality and efficient advisory services if they approach your region. I hope that we have a steady parade of German companies looking to invest in Canada. In such a scenario I am sure you will have several knocking on your doors. I also think that your food alliance group has both export and investment potential in this important sector.” Thomas Marr, Minister‐Counsellor Commercial and Economic Affairs

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Economic Development Strategy

Aileen Murray Ec.D. (F) Manager of Economic Development Middlesex County amurray@investinmiddlesex.ca 519‐434‐7321 x 2347

www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Economic Development Strategy

McSweeney & Assoc. 2008

• Build on our Competitive

Strengths

– Enhancing the Business Environment – Manufacturing – Agriculture & the Bio‐ economy – Tourism

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Enhancing the Business Environment

• Business Retention
• Small Business Support
• Labour Force Development
• Public Transportation
• High Speed Internet

13 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Manufacturing

• Business Visitation /Retention
• Investment Attraction focusing on

diversification

– Food processing potential

• Industrial Land Market Analysis Study
• Cooperation with manufacturing

associations & post secondary educators

• Workforce Development

– Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Committee – Resident Attraction & Retention

• Networking & Relationship Building

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Agriculture

• Establish Middlesex Agriculture Committee

– Explore alternative agri‐products – Engage Western University, other key stakeholders

• Bio‐products Stakeholder Taskforce
• Investment attraction targeting food processing & bio‐

products

• Build awareness & support opportunities in:

– Specialized crops – Value‐added food products – Agricultural cottage industries – Farm gate & artisan food products – Community Shared Agricultural (CSA) Products

• Develop & Promote local foods initiatives

15 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Tourism

• Review by‐laws that impede tourism

development

• Establish a Destination Marketing

Organization

– Identify tourism assets

• Packaging (bundling) of tourism assets

– Identify gaps in tourism products – Establish a sustainable tourism development strategy

• Signage identified as an issue

– Seek out and develop strategic alliances

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Foreign Direct Investment Strategy

• Strengthen Core Economic Development

Functions

– Deepen the County Economic Development Staff – Build from the Existing Employer Base – Capitalize on 2011 Core Initiatives

• Selective Proactive International Marketing

– Cultivate Federal and Provincial Foreign Investment Intermediaries – Leverage Regional and Sector Partnerships

• Develop Investor Customer Service Excellence

– Continuously Improve the Website – Improve Location Prospect Response – Fast Track Regulatory Permitting for Quality Development Projects

17 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Employment Land Needs Analysis

• Employment Land Protection

– Protection from conversion to non‐employment land uses – Standard framework for review of employment land conversion applications

• Targeted Marketing

– Tracking county‐wide development data – Additional comprehensive marketing materials – Regional & sector specific employment land marketing collaboration – Action oriented marketing of high‐priority employment land

• Developable Land Supply and Provision for Market

Choice

– Balanced inventory of shovel ready employment land – Monitor inventory levels – Long‐term planning & development 18

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Marketing Strategy

• Web is primary communication tool

supported by print material and social media strategy

• Search Engine Optimization
• E‐Newsletter
• Facebook and Twitter
• Audio and Video for testimonials
• Analytics
• Promote Toolbox

– Toolbox, Business Directory, Available Properties, Government Programs

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2012 Economic Development Goals

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Goals

• Awareness – referral generation, small

business support, trouble shooting

• Building economic development

capacity

• Supporting Municipal Efforts – corporate

visitation, ELNA DECEMBER 18, 2012 Page 10 of 23 3 - CC Visioning Session

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Celebrating & sharing good news in Middlesex County

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Creating Awareness

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Newsletter – 1,812 subscribers Business Directory 2,400 listings

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Website & Social Media

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118 likes 270 followers 176 connections 1,545 unique visits in October 12,088 unique visits in 2012 to date

Business Retention & Expansion

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E‐ Blasts

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Small Business Workshops

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• Over 100 participants attended

workshops in 2012

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Workforce Development Strategy

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• Launched November 1, 2012

Employment Land Needs Analysis

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Available Land and Buildings in Middlesex County

• Assessment of shovel

ready status of municipal employment lands

• Recommendations on

enhancing investment capacity

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Tourism Signage Strategy

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• Increasing the number and duration of tourism visits in

Middlesex County

Resident Attraction Workshop

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• Responding to requests from Middlesex Municipalities

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Foreign Direct Investment Strategy

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• Leverage regional programs – Ontario

Food Cluster (Chicago Mission)

• Build key influencer awareness‐

marketing efforts – ICI realtors, site selectors, federal & provincial

• rganizations
• Mission to Detroit Consulate
• Germany

Ontario Food Cluster

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Economic Development Strategy

www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Economic Development Programs

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Small Business & Entrepreneurship Small Business & Entrepreneurship Business Retention & Expansion Business Retention & Expansion New Business Attraction New Business Attraction Tourism Development & Marketing Tourism Development & Marketing Downtown Development Infrastructure & Investment Readiness

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Source of New Jobs & Investment

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Existing Businesses 76% Business Attraction 15% Entrepreneurs 9%

Source: Blane Canada Ltd.

www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Building on a strong foundation

Continue Marketing Program

• Create awareness, generate

referrals, support existing businesses

• Website, social media, print
• E newsletter to highlight good

news, available properties, new government programs

• Target key influencers &

existing businesses

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Incremental Growth

• Municipal partners meetings

& support

• Corporate visitation with

Municipalities

• Update and share

investment, demographic, economic data

• Available Properties

Inventory, Business Directory

37 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Incremental Growth

• Small Business Support

workshops

• Employment Land Analysis

Implementation

• Workforce Development

Strategy Implementation

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Foreign Direct Investment Strategy Implementation

Recommendations from 2011 Strategy

• Strengthen Core Economic Development

Functions

– Deepen the County Economic Development Staff – Build from the Existing Employer Base – Capitalize on 2011 Core Initiatives

• Selective Proactive International Marketing

– Cultivate Federal and Provincial Foreign Investment Intermediaries – Leverage Regional and Sector Partnerships

• Develop Investor Customer Service Excellence

– Continuously Improve the Website – Improve Location Prospect Response – Fast Track Regulatory Permitting for Quality Development Projects

39 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Leveraging Regional & Sector Activities

• SCOR Local Food Distribution Hubs
• High Speed Internet – SWEA Intelligent

Communities Initiatives

• Ontario Food Cluster – Investment Attraction,

Market Intelligence, Marketing

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Agriculture in Middlesex County

• 10 % of employment by occupation
• 9.7% of employment by industry
• 2 of the top 10 employers
• Strategic advantages

– Producers & processors – Central location – access to markets – Proximity to future adopters of bio‐ products (energy sector and manufacturers) – R & D capacity – Western, U of Guelph – Manufacturing strength

41 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Agriculture: A new focus

Recommendations from the Middlesex Economic Development Strategy

• Establish Middlesex Agriculture

Committee

– Explore alternative agri‐products – Engage Western University, other key stakeholders

• Bio‐products Stakeholder Taskforce
• Education with an agricultural focus

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Agriculture: A new focus

Recommendations from the Middlesex Economic Development Strategy

• Investment attraction targeting food

processing & bio‐products

• Build awareness & support opportunities in:

– Specialized crops – Value‐added food products – Agricultural cottage industries – Farm gate & artisan food products – Community Shared Agricultural (CSA) Products

• Develop & Promote local foods initiatives

43 www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Tourism

• Tourism Signage Strategy

Implementation

44

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www.investinmiddlesex.ca

Questions

45

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