Business Retention and Expansion Project

Business Retention and Expansion Project

Project Update

The survey was completed in April 2022, and the council approved the final report in August.

Project Description

The Township of Whitewater Region was undertaking a Business Retention and Expansion project.

The Goals and Objectives of the project are to:

1. Increase the competitiveness of business within the Township.

2. Enable business development, investment, and job creation.

3. Identify the positive and negative attributes of the community as a place to do business.

4. Establish and implement a strategic action plan to support existing businesses.

5. Build and improve relations with existing businesses and the Township.

6. Provide businesses with a resource network for communication with the Township and government funding opportunities.

Project Timing

The Council of the Township of Whitewater Region received funding from the Ontario government to run this project (Council Report Below) on September 1, 2021. The projects will generally follow the timelines below:

  1. Public launch on December 10, 2021
  2. Business survey February 2022 to April 2022
  3. Action plan and business solutions- June 2022
  4. General results and implementation August 2022

Council Report

Poster

Council Report May Update

Final Report

BR+E aggregated data

Funding

The Township of Whitewater Region submitted a funding application to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for the Rural Economic Development Program (RED program)

The cost of the Business Retention and Expansion project was $64,917, inclusive of non-refundable HST. In addition, the Province of Ontario Rural Economic Development Program helped fund 50% of the total cost of hiring a business outreach officer to facilitate the project for a total of $24,958.50. The Township is responsible for the remaining $39,958.50, including equipment, office accommodations, staffing support and project marketing.

Public Involvement

Business Retention and Expansion Survey  

The Township will be involving the provincial agencies, local organizations, stakeholders, and businesses at certain milestones of each proposed project. In addition, local newspapers (Block Ad/ Other), Township Website, and Social Media will provide advertisements for business engagement.

Contact

Township of Whitewater Region

44 Main Street, P.O. Box 40

Cobden ON K0J 1K0

Tel. 613-646-2282

Email. dready@whitewaterregion.ca