HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-12-014 - Staff Appointment - Mfg Innovation Network AdvisorREPORT TO:Council
DATE OF MEETING:
March 26, 2012
SUBMITTED BY: Rod Regier, Executive Director Economic Development,
Ext. 2506
PREPARED BY:
Valerie Machado, Business Development Officer, Ext. 2367
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
March 12, 2012
REPORT NO.:
CAO-12-014
SUBJECT:
Staff Appointment to Manufacturing Innovation Network
(MIN) Advisory Board
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Executive Director of Economic Development or designate be appointed as the
City of Kitchener representative on the Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) Board of
Directors.
BACKGROUND:
The Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) was established as a result of a Corporate
Visitation program with the manufacturing sector undertaken by City of Kitchener staff in 2006.
Findings flowing from that report, “Manufacturing our Future” indicated a need to assist area
manufacturers in developing a local supply chain. Examples were discovered of local
companies sourcing products from China that had actually been manufactured here in the
Region of Waterloo.
Developed in partnership by local government, academic institutions, associations,
manufacturing consortiums and local manufacturers, MIN is a free online network intended to
strengthen the local supply chain and create a more responsive and globally competitive
manufacturing community in the Waterloo region. Tools used to accomplish this include a
searchable electronic directory of the 1000 manufacturers in the Waterloo Region, a job board,
an events calendar, and posts by expert bloggers on a variety of topics of interest to the
manufacturing community.
MIN was officially launched in January of 2009, and the member organizations represented on
the Advisory Board are: The Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, Conestoga College,
the University of Waterloo, the Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce, the Automotive Parts and
Manufacturers Association, Communitech, and Canada’s Technology Triangle. It is a working
board, with all members having an active role to play, as MIN only has one contract staff
member, a Community Facilitator who bills the Board on an hourly basis monthly for services
rendered.
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REPORT:
MIN has recently become incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, and thus the City of
Kitchener now has a need to formally appoint a staff member to serve on the Board as a
Director. MIN will be arranging for Officers and Directors Insurance as well as general liability
coverage.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY:
The Manufacturing Innovation Network (MIN) is referenced in the City of Kitchener’s current
economic development strategy, as a means of supporting the manufacturing cluster by igniting
innovation, enhancing global competitiveness, and further developing the local supply chain
through online and networking events. In conjunction with our corporate sponsors, Gowlings,
st
Cowan, TD and KPMG, MIN is hosting its first Manufacturing Summit on May 1 at Bingemans,
featuring the Honourable Jim Flaherty as the keynote speaker.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
(
Nil
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
None
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Rod Regier
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