Elgin County Earns Provincial Nod!

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) on February 2^nd, presented Elgin County with two awards in recognition of its Economic Development Strategy and Action plan for 2011-2014, and its Elgin Arts Trail website promoting visual arts attractions throughout the County.

"We are pleased and proud of the Economic Development Strategy and Elgin Arts Trail website." said Elgin County Warden Bill Walters. "They are testaments to the great work done by the Economic Development and Tourism Services Department in the growth and support of the business community in the County."

Elgin County’s Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan for 2011-2014, developed in conjunction with marketing firms Millier Dickenson Blais and Yfactor, is a four-year strategy that builds on the County’s identified economic strengths and provides a new direction in the context of the creative rural economy. Developing talent and innovation is the basis for this strategy that focuses on creative people and knowledge as economic generators.

Recognizing the potential of arts as a driver of tourism, Elgin County Economic Development in partnership with the Elgin Business Resource Centre and the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre developed and launched an Arts Trail to connect artists, artisans, and art galleries throughout the County and the city of St. Thomas. The Elgin Arts Trail website invites tourists as well as residents to visit these attractions and features each member of the Elgin Arts Trail program. The site also incorporates the interactive Tourism Ytool which makes it easy for website visitors to find out about events, restaurants or hotels and to quickly create individual itineraries for their upcoming visit to Elgin County and St. Thomas. Interactive maps make locating the destinations effortless for prospective tourists.

Visit www.progressivebynature.com to see the Elgin County Economic Development Strategy and visit www.elginartstrail.ca to get more information about Elgin’s vibrant arts community!

Elgin Business Resource Centre Satellite Office to Open in Aylmer

The County of Elgin will fully fund a one-year pilot project to operate a satellite office of the Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC). The office will be located at the Elgin Innovation Centre in Aylmer, and will service eastern Elgin County.

The EBRC is a community based- not-for-profit organization that supports local business communities and encourages entrepreneurship and economic growth through access to capital, business services and project support.

 “The EBRC satellite office will be dedicated to helping business owners and entrepreneurs succeed in today’s ever-changing business market,” said Mike Streib, President of EBRC. “The satellite office will offer assistance to those looking to open a business, formulate a business plan, or make changes to an existing business.”

The County of Elgin has partnered successfully with the EBRC in the past on several initiatives including the Elgin St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC), the Innovation Centre for Entrepreneurs (ICE), and the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP).

“It is of particular importance in these challenging economic times that the County continues to undertake programs and initiatives to support and cultivate local business development and entrepreneurship,” said Elgin County Warden Bill Walters. “This is another example of the County’s Economic Development department forming partnerships that will enhance economic growth.”

There is a strong demand for the services that the EBRC provides for Elgin County residents. By supporting the development of an EBRC satellite office in Aylmer, the County will ensure that new and existing business in the County will have greater access to support services to help them thrive and grow. The Elgin Innovation Centre offers an advantageous location, ample space and a variety of amenities needed for the new office.

“The Elgin Innovation Centre is pleased to be the new home of the EBRC office in Aylmer.  Their presence will help grow local businesses and promote innovation in the area,” said Jack Baribeau, co-owner of the Elgin Innovation Centre.

Look for Elgin County's Commercial on TV!

Elgin County Economic Development is pleased to announce that we have created a television commercial that will be airing on several stations in January 2012. The ad showcases Elgin County’s pristine natural beauty and promotes Elgin as a great place to start a business and raise a family. The 30 second spot will air during City TV’s Breakfast Television January 9th-13th, CHCH Hamilton’s Evening News at 6 January 16th-20th, and CTV London’s News at 6 January 23rd-27th.

The commercial can also be viewed online on our YouTube Channel.

Elgin County Conference Series Focused on Helping Small Business

Elgin County’s Economic Development Department focused on helping small business in the third installment of the Elgin County Conference Series.

Doing Business with the Government was held on November 23rd, 2011 and featured eight speakers, addressing topics ranging from the procurement process to government funding. This one-day seminar showcased business and funding opportunities available to small businesses through all levels of government.

“This conference series demonstrates the County’s commitment to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Alan Smith, General Manager of Economic Development for the County. “We will continue to offer valuable business development programming to serve the needs of Elgin’s business community.”

This seminar gave small businesses in Elgin County an opportunity to learn about the process of doing business with the government and how to apply for funding at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Topics presented included: the funding application process, funding availability, procurement and purchasing processes, and accessing the market for agricultural producers. Dynamic keynote presentations were delivered by speakers ranging from successful business owners to ministry representatives. 

Click HERE to view guest speaker presentations.