This report highlights business development

accomplishments by the WindsorEssex Economic

Development Corporation (WE EDC) from July

to September 2017 and provides an overview

of regional economic development interactions

that include, but are not limited to, outreach,

consultation, trade shows, performance metrics,

entrepreneurship, marketing, and international

outreach by the Business Development team.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN WINDSOR-ESSEX /windsoressex /windsoressex/weecdev

Through these and other activities, the team focuses on five key areas:

Business Attraction

Small Business Centre

Business Retention & Expansion

Institute for Border Logistics and Security

Marketing and Communications

Quarterly reports are provided to funders, stakeholders and the general public and are posted on the Corporation’s website www.choosewindsoressex.com

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2 017 THIRD-QUARTER ACTIVITIES

Stephen MacKenzie, CEO and Ed Dawson with the WE EDC attended the Logistics Development Forum in Vail, Colorado in July. As a sponsor, WE EDC had the opportunity to connect with many site selectors who specialize in the Logistics sector and to conduct one-on-one meetings with them. This was an opportunity to present the many assets of the region and the advantages such as our strategic location and how the Windsor/Detroit crossing is the busiest commercial Canada/U.S. border crossing in North America.

Logistics Development Forum

B U S I N E S S A T T R A C T I O N

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The BA team was proud to work with Triumph Tool Ltd. to help them establish a branch in Windsor. Triumph Tool is a speciality distributor of high-quality metal cutting tools and related niche products. Triumph has worked with companies in the region and the decision to enter the Windsor-Essex market was a strategic move on their part to compete for the business of discerning machining companies. We are delighted to have Triumph Tool locate in our region and wish them continued growth and success.

Left to right: Christopher Lloyd, McGuireWoods Consulting, Ed Dawson and Stephen MacKenzie, WE EDC

Triumph Tool Ltd. Expands to Windsor-Essex Region

The BA team hosted several high-level executives from Germany, Switzerland, United States and Mexico during the third quarter. WE EDC tailored tours, programs and presentations specifically for each company providing the opportunity to promote and present

the many assets of the region. Site tours and meetings were arranged with local educational institutions, lawyers, accountants and government officials. Dialogue continues with these companies.

Global Companies Explore Windsor-Essex for Potential Investment Opportunities

German company tours CenterLine, Windsor

B U S I N E S S A T T R A C T I O N

3

IEDC Toronto September 17 to 19, 2017

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest national and global organization of its kind.

This year’s conference was held outside the United States for the first time in the organization’s history. The IEDC Toronto conference attracted site selectors and corporate end users from around the globe to Ontario.

The BA team attended this year’s IEDC conference and as part of our ongoing business attraction efforts several meetings were set up with site selectors

from Europe, Canada and the United States to discuss lead generation in 2018.

Ongoing communications with these site selectors are taking place as we finalize our FDI strategy for 2018.

The Marketing team supported BA by organizing meeting details with site selectors.

S M A L L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E

Eighteen students from Windsor-Essex joined hundreds of others across the province as first-time entrepreneurs in the annual Summer Company program - a longstanding flagship program delivered in partnership with the Ontario government which provides young people with the resources and training to start a new summer business. Full-time students, aged 15-29, received hands-on business training, advice, and mentorship, from local business leaders, as well as a grant of $3,000.

The program kicked off with a full-day of orientation and training in July and provided bi-weekly mentorship meetings and workshops led by local and seasoned business experts. The Small Business Centre (SBC) organized the opportunity for the young entrepreneurs to participate in Walkerville Buskerville Festival. Summer Company culminated with a media wrap-up event on Aug 28th where the students pitched their businesses and presented what they

have learned about running their own business. This year’s diverse group of businesses include services and products, such as videography, fashion, landscaping, boat cleaning, audio recording, tutoring, 3D printing, and property management. The Marketing Department supported SBC and

promoted the Summer Company program by organizing a media meet and greet. There was significant interest by the media that resulted in showcasing the student’s products and services in print and online, radio, television and social media.

2017 Summer Company Program Fosters Youth Entrepreneurship

2017 Summer Company Young Entrepreneurs

S M A L L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E

200 international professionals attended the session and therefore this provided an excellent opportunity to share best practices and highlight the Windsor-Essex region.

The Marketing Department supported the SBC with the development of their website and provides monthly communications support for the delivery of their E-Newsletter.

a Gold Award - Excellence in Economic Development for their monthly Small Business E-Newsletter and a Silver Award for the SBC website. The SBC is proud of this honour which not only recognizes excellence in economic development and outstanding service to the local region, but also the award highlights our projects and marketing tools to other communities which can be used as a benchmark globally.

Natasha Marar, Business Advisor was selected to participate as an expert panelist during a plenary session titled “How the Creative Industries Support Core Industry Development”. She presented the organization’s efforts to support the growth of the creative economy as well as develop an economic strategy to foster the growth of the music ecosystem. Over

During the Annual International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Conference, held in Toronto on Sept. 19, 2017, at an award ceremony SBC was presented with

SBC Receives Excellencein Economic Development Awards

October is Small Business Month in Canada, and a great opportunity to highlight Windsor and Essex County, entrepreneurs. Now in its third year, SBC will host its signature, annual event, the Smallbiz Expo, on October 18, 2017, from 5pm to 9pm, at the Caboto Club, in Windsor.

The Smallbiz Expo is a free, public event that showcases the diversity of independent small business products and services from Windsor-Essex. Area residents, who love local, can shop local at the expo, where they will find regional food and drink vendors, retail products in fashion, beauty, health, homewares, and consumer services. There will also benetworking opportunities, live demonstrations, door prizes, and entertainment.

Some of the businesses participating in the expo includes Robbie’s Gourmet Sausage Co., I LUV Coffee, Sweet Revenge Bake Shop, Licia Ruby Food Co., Urban Art

Market, Windermere Art Gallery, Witch and Whimsey, Dave’s Woodworking, H’OM Wellness Centre, Optimal Chiropractic and many more.

The Marketing Department managed the production of creative and an integrated media campaign to promote Small Business Month and the Smallbiz Expo. Elements of the campaign included social media advertising, radio commercials on AM800 and Blackburn Radio, print and online advertising in the Windsor Star, Biz X Magazine, Windsorite.ca, Blackburnnews.com. As part of the campaign Marketing has arranged for a live remote with Blackburn Radio. Marketing has teamed up with SBC to execute the event plan for the Smallbiz Expo.

For more information about the Small Business Centre, including programs, workshops and events visit www.windsoressexsmallbusiness.com

Annual Smallbiz Expo Returns

Example promotional material created by WE EDC’s Marketing dept. for the 2017 Smallbiz Expo

Michael Langley, IEDC Chair presents award to Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director and Natasha Marar, Business Advisor

Natasha Marar, Business Advisor, a presenter and panelist during the IEDC Conference

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The Business Retention and Expansion team, in partnership with Spartan Sling Mfg. of Tecumseh, supported and promoted a series of six seminars over three days to provide Windsor-Essex manufacturing and construction companies the opportunity for their

employees to receive training in the safe, proper use and inspection of rigging at no cost to the companies. A total of 261 people attended the six three-hour seminars which were held on the occasion of Spartan Sling’s 30th anniversary.

Rigging Inspections & Safe Rigging Practices Seminars Series of training seminars

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B U S I N E S S R E T E N T I O N & E X P A N S I O N

WE EDC was invited to join a roundtable discussion hosted by the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) in partnership with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Supply Chain Management Association Ontario, and Business Council of Canada.

The discussion focused on Canadian workforce challenges, initiatives and opportunities for collaboration across borders, and NAFTA to identify key priority areas and opportunities for collaboration.

North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) Roundtable

Industry association leaders and representatives from the Federal, Provincial, and Mexican governments attended the roundtables.

In an effort to increase awareness of the available programs and services, the BR&E team met with companies in the logistics and warehousing sector throughout the region. Over 50 freight, customs, warehousing and speciality hauling companies were contacted and added to the key sector database. This blitz helped expand the total number of businesses listed in the logistic and warehousing section of the database to over 100. The topic of discussion included the adoption of emerging logistics technology, the NAFTA renegotiations, and a retiring workforce. Visit: www.buywindsoressex.com

Transportation & Logistics Business Blitz

Transportation & Logistics in the Windsor-Essex Region

On July 21, 2017, The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation, WindsorEssex Regional Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Windsor-Essex, St. Clair College, Cross Border Institute, and the Institute for Border Logistics and Security, along with provincial and federal partners came together to work on a strategy to support the region’s

business community throughout the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The group is committed to promoting economic prosperity across the Windsor-Essex region. Additionally, these organizations will help identify the key issues and priorities and look for opportunities for workers, businesses, communities and

cross-border commuters in the region. The collective efforts will include: a coordinated survey seeking local input, workshops and information sessions, and submissions to governments highlighting the importance of preserving and strengthening a fair and free trade across North America.

Working Together to Support Business Community During NAFTA Negotiations

In August 2017, local organizations with a mandate linked to transportation and trade met to discuss the existing transportation system in the region and identify areas that need improvement. The discussion led to the identification of a number of priority projects that require additional investment, including a list of projects estimated to be over $500 million to be considered through an expression of interest by Transport Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF). The organizations include the following: City of Windsor, County of Essex, Towns of Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Leamington, Tecumseh and the Township of Pelee, Windsor Detroit

Bridge Authority, Cross Border Institute, Institute for Border Logistics and Security, University of Windsor, Connecting Windsor-Essex, Essex Terminal Railway, and Workforce Windsor-Essex.

Windsor-Essex Region - Home to One of Canada’s Most Important Trade Corridors

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Institute for Border Logistics and Security

On September 30, 2017, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation’s WE Engage project - aimed to increase youth’s civic engagement through a

series of workshops across the region – collaborated with WE EDC to organize a workshop on economic development. The workshop, entitled Economic Development 101, was hosted by IBLS. This collaborative effort by WE EDC (BR&E, SBC and IBLS) focused on three major economic development concepts (i) overview of economic development from a local perspective (ii) small business and entrepreneurship and (iii) think global; live local highlighting Windsor-Essex’s competitive advantage as a border region.

WE Engage Workshop – Economic Development 101

WE Engage Sept 2017

M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

Corporate Marketing & Communications

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Choosewindsoressex.comUsers – 4,796Pageviews – 12,656New Visitors – 31.5%Returning Visitors – 68.5%

/WindsorEssex @weecdevTotal Fans – 5,083Total Impressions – 156,637Total Engagement – 1,806

Top Site Visitors Canada US India China UK

Website & Social Media Analytics

The Marketing department focuses on creating strategies that support business development initiatives within the areas of Business Retention and Expansion, Business Attraction, and Entrepreneurship as well as, provides client support. Advertising strategies are aimed at enhancing business development and promoting the Windsor-Essex region.

Strategic programs and activities include the following:

Integrated marketing and advertising campaigns, event management, sponsorships, media and public relations, collateral materials, and communication through social media channels including video and corporate websites. Marketing maintains corporate brand standards and brand image across all media.

The following media releases were prepared by the Marketing department to communicate corporate initiatives, they include Preparing for the Renegotiation of NAFTA, The WindsorEssex Small Business Centre Supports Local Enterprising Young People and Windsor-Essex, Ontario, Canada Recognized as One of the Top 10 Locations for Investment in Canada.

Marketing managed several requests from local media with the following topics: the sale of Premier Aviation to AAR, the second span of the Ambassador Bridge, SBC’s Summer Company Meet and Greet, WE EDC’s CEO report to City of Windsor Council, requests also came from the national and international media about the Detroit/Windsor-Essex Amazon bid and the region’s FTZ designation.

MediaRelations

Arms Bumanlag, host of CBC Windsor News reports on SBC Summer Company Program

M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

In the third quarter, the Marketing Department has been working on developing event plans and executing the plans to support two major signature events – both taking place in October, for BR&E - A Conference and Trade Show: Emerging Technologies in Automation and the third annual Smallbiz Expo presented by SBC. Marketing elements include: event management, the development of promotional materials, website management, integrated media campaigns including print, online, radio, social media and public and media relations.

In the third quarter, WE EDC received the following international awards.

Event Marketing& Planning

Awards& Recognition

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In Q3, Marketing developed creative advertisements for print, online, radio, and social media for the following: “Due Southwest” is a special section produced by the Windsor Star and distributed to 25,000 National Post recipients in Greater Toronto Area by Post Media. Print ads were also developed and placed in the Canadian Association of Mold Makers trade magazine. FTZ digital ads were placed for the Michigan and Ohio marketplace as well as, an on-line and print campaign to promote WE EDC Emerging Technologies in Automation Conference and Trade Show.

Advertising

1.888.255.9332 choosewindsoressex.com

It’s the resource for resourceful businessesEssential database:Windsor-Essex suppliers/buyers from around the world come together.

• Manufacturing

• Agri-Business• Logistics &

Warehousing

W I N D S O R - E S S E X , O N T A R I O C A N A D A

This database is searched by nearly 100,000 visitors a year, including trade commissioners, procurement specialists and supply chain developers. It’s an essential resource for anyone looking for new suppliers or for our local companies to expand their products into markets globally.

Find it. Be found.Best of all, it’s FREE at BuyWindsorEssex.com.

• Professional Services & Back-End Office Operations

Online listing of Windsor-Essex suppliers in:

LOVE LOCAL. SHOP LOCAL.Experience one of the region’s largest shop local events – the SmallBiz Expo.

Oct 18, 2017 | 5 – 9 p.m. Giovanni Caboto Club

For details visit: windsoressexsmallbusiness.com/expo

WINDSOR citywindsor.ca

As Canada’s busiest gateway to the NAFTA Trade

Corridor, Windsor provides unparalleled access

to major transportation links on both sides

of the border. Windsor supports investment

through financial incentives in strategic areas

of development including a commercial (non-

industrial) and residential property charge of

zero in core areas; an Economic Revitalization

Community Improvement Plan for targeted

economic sectors; and incentives through

a Brownfield Redevelopment

Community Improvement Plan.

LAKESHORE lakeshore.ca

Lakeshore is home to many

auto related supply plants, tool

and mold shops and boasts an

experienced labour force. A

provincially certified investment

ready site available. Adding to

an excellent quality of life the

$62M Atlas Tube Rec. Centre has

recently been built.LASALLE lasalle.ca

LaSalle is one of the fastest growing

towns in South Western ON and has been

rated one of the top 50 places to live in

Canada. It offers an abundance of natural

areas, interconnected trail network and

provides high-quality services

to its residents.

AMHERSTBURGamherstburg.ca

One of the prettiest and oldest

communities in our Region,

offering low land prices and

no development fees for

commercial and industrial.

Catchment area provides highly

trained and skilled trades people

administrators and managers.

choosewindsoressex.com

ESSEX essex.ca

Home to national and

international manufacturing.

No development charges for

new or expanding industrial

development. Funding is available

for rehabilitation of commercial

buildings and redevelopment 

of vacant properties.

KINGSVILLE kingsville.ca

Kingsville presents a unique

profile of a thriving downtown

environment surrounded by

traditional agricultural farming and

an ever-expanding greenhouse

industry. The first portion of a 50-

acre Industrial Park development

goes online fall of 2017.

LEAMINGTON leamington.ca

Home to the largest concentration of

greenhouses in North America, Leamington

offers 100% discount on development fees

for residential and non-residential and

financial incentive programs to help reduce

the cost of rehabilitating and improving

buildings in designated areas. Home to

Point Pelee National Park, Leamington is

a destination that attracts international

naturalist visitors.

PELEE ISLAND pelee.org

As Canada’s most southern

destination, Pelee Island’s climatic

characteristics have helped support

plant and animal life not found in

other parts of the country. Home to the

award-winning Pelee Island Winery.

WINDSOR-ESSEX, ONTARIO CANADA - ONE REGION MADE UP OF VIBRANT AND SAFE COMMUNITIES

Located on the Canada/U.S. border, one of North America’s Top Locations for Investment and Development

TECUMSEH tecumseh.ca

Tecumseh has a labour-centric workforce with

support industries attuned to manufacturing,

processing and agriculture. It is located

adjacent to major international highways

and border crossings with access to millions

of users in North American markets. It also

offers a Community Improvement Plan

with incentives for businesses to encourage

investment in the central core.

A publication from the Financial Times

Courtney FingarEditor-in-Chief

WINNERSMALL CITIES – BEST FOR BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS

WINDSOR

What We Do

The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation advanceseconomic development and prosperity in our region. We are the region’s lead economic development agency and a dedicated catalyst for business growth and expansion. We attract new businesses to our region, help strengthen existing businesses and support entrepreneurship in three key ways:

INFORMING We provide the most current and relevant information and data on site selection, market research and available government funding.

GUIDING We provide answers and advice on general business practices, expansion planning, multi-national branch planning and exporting, as well as training and educational resources.

CONNECTING We help organizations cutthrough red tape and we connect them directlywith key decision makers, potential partners andfunders.

choosewindsoressex.com

Total amount of new investment to the region, through both public and private investment streams.

Diversification Retention & Expansion Files

Priority BusinessAttraction Files

Top Business Priorities NAFTA

Business ImmigrationProposed reform to the EmploymentStandards and Labour Relations Acts - Bill 148Skilled Trades/Labour Demand and ChallengeRegulatory Environment: Cap & Trade, Energy Pricing

40 Business Expansions Facilitated

Business Startups

Priority Files

New Jobs Facilitated

10

49

253

Life Sciences 9Professional Services 17Other 32Advanced Manufacturing 53Logistics and Warehousing 31Agri-Business 20

Advanced Manufacturing

Information Communications Technology

Tourism/Entertainment

New Investment Facilitated$19,189,000

Note: The above figures reflect all of Windsor and Essex County, comparing Q3 2017 to Q2 2017. Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey custom tabulation.

Regional Labour Market Indicators

Population 15+334,600

Labour Force206,900

Employment194,500

Unemployment12,400

Unemployment Rate6.0%

Participation Rate61.8%

Employment Rate58.1%

67 Sessions | 261 Attendees

Business Resource Sessions

Building Permits*

$79,993,033*incl. industrial, commercial& institutional

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