HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconDevAdv 2013-01-23
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 23, 2013 City of Kitchener
The Economic Development Advisory Committee met this date, chaired by the
following members were in attendance: Philip Jones, Cory Ernst, Steve Sachs,
Jeff Hoekman, Kevin Fergin, Johanna Classon-Romero, Hani Naamani, Darrin
Snider, Jamie Yantzi, Mark Bingeman
The following people were absent: Jeremy Auger, Ashley Reid, Brian Bennett
Staff in attendance: Rod Regier, Kim Feere, Hilary Able, Sandy Curzon, Michelle
McBride-Roach, Monika Grau, Janette MacDonald, Chris Farrell and Tracey
Murray, Cory Bluhm
1.Introductions
The group introduced themselves. Rod Regier provided an overview of what the
committee does and the economic development portfolio in Kitchener.
2. Orientation
Rod Regier and Tracey Murray provided an overview of the committee process,
speaking with the media, roles and responsibilities, reporting structure, and an
overview of the structure of economic development.
3. Nomination of Co-Chairs
Nominations for co-chair of the new committee were brought forward and
accepted by the committee members as follows:
Nomination for co-chair - Jeremy Auger
Nomination for co-chair – Councillor Paul Singh
4. Economic Development Data Overview
Janette MacDonald provided an overview of the data, including the labour force
survey and a background of what those documents are.
5. KEDS
An overview of the Kitchener Economic Development Strategy (KEDS) was
provided as well as a background of the work that the committee will be involved
in over their term.
A summary of the next steps in advancing the strategy including an outline of the
sectors within the region and where Kitchener sits in the market globally was also
discussed. The committee also discussed the background of the Economic
Development Investment Fund (EDIF) which was a $110M investment fund over
10 years to invest in things such as the University of Waterloo School of
Pharmacy, the redesign of King Street, including spin off investments from the
private sector with The Tannery and the Kaufman Lofts and the Communitech
Hub.
Rod Regier provided an overview of each core area of focus in KEDS and where
staff are heading in terms of fulfilling each of those areas.
The committee was informed that a main component of their work will be to focus
on the next stage of KEDS implementation.
The committee discussed a proposal to break into 4 teams in a subcommittee
process. Each team to discuss one of the 4 areas of focus – Start-up City,
Cluster Building, Talent Strategy and the Innovation District. These sub-
committee groups would focus on how we advance project we need to consider
in terms of those core areas and bring the conclusions of their discussion back to
EDAC in Jun and December. EDAC members were supportive of the proposal.
Rod Regier tabled the split in the committee structure for break out groups due to
the need for a focus on each of the core areas of KEDS. Specifically these sub-
committee groups would focus on how we advance projects we need to consider
in terms of those core areas.
ACTION: Tracey Murray to send out an email asking for members to sign up for
a sub-committee group.
6. Future Agenda Items
a) Profile of the manufacturing sector – February meeting
b) After EDIF – what’s next
On motion the committee adjourned at 1:00