HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-16-022 - Waterloo Region Small Business Centre - Youth Skills Connections Fund 2016-2017
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services
DATE OF MEETING: September 12, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Farrell,Manager,Small Business Centre, 519 741 2200 x7294
PREPARED BY: Chris Farrell,Manager,Small Business Centre, 519 741 2200 x7294
WARD (S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: August 26, 2016
REPORT NO.: CAO-16-022
SUBJECT:CITY OF KITCHENER - WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS
CENTRE AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
DIGITAL MARKETING AND E-COMMERCE
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign a one year funding
agreement with the Province of Ontario to undertake the Youth Skills Connections program. The
program will be delivered by the Kitchener Waterloo Region Small Business Centre. Said
agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener Small Business Centre provides entrepreneurs with guidance, business
training, events, one-on-one coaching, mentoring and access to industry professionals. Over the
past 15 years the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre has assisted over 390 youth age 15
29 to start and grow a business and provided entrepreneurial training to over 850 youth.
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre is applying for funding and seeking approval to enter
into a one year agreement to deliver a Province of Ontario Youth Skills Connections Program, from
Oct 1, 2016 to Sept 30, 2017. The program will provide youth age 18 - 29 with experiential
training in digital marketing, e-commerce and project management. These students will work on
projects submitted by local small business owners to implement digital marketing and e-commerce
solutions.
REPORT:
The Youth Skills Connectionsprogram will provide youth age 18 - 29 with integrated digital skills
training, certifications and enable work placement opportunities. The City of Kitchener and
Waterloo Region Small Business Centre will work in partnership with local post-secondary
institutions, industry sector experts, technology and software companies to provide 60 participants
with experiential learning, coursework and expert coaching.
The program provides digital skills training to youth, students, graduates and alumni that do not
currently have business training. The objective is to increase their job marketability and create a
potential opportunity for higher earnings once employed. Local small business owners, who may
not have the resources to solve digital business challenges, will have an opportunity to submit case
studies and projects to the program andwork directly with the students to implement digital
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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marketing and e-commerce solutions. The objective is to provide business owners a direct line to
the talent they need to diversify their workforce and positioning them to compete in the rapidly
changing digital economy.
The program will employ up to 2.5 FTE and train up to 60 youth over one year.The Provincial
Youth Skills Connection Program Funds awarded to this project will be supported with in-kind cash
contributions.The in-kind contributions from private sector companies, service agencies and post-
secondary institutions include software licenses, expert technicians, courseware, marketing,
promotions, working spaces and referrals and recruitment through faculties and career services at
post-secondary institutions. Acash contribution commitment has been made by Wilfrid Laurier
University as well as a commitment to provide an Accredited Certificate to all graduates of this
program.The City of Kitchener Small Business Centre will manage the project andprovide some
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facility space. The program will operate from October 1, 2016 to September 30 2017.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority: Strong & Resilient Economy
Strategy: #2.2 Support the attraction, retention and development of existing and new
industries within the regional economy working in collaboration with the economic development
corporation for Waterloo Region.
Strategic Action: # 26 Make It Start
# 27 Make It Grow
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No financial implications for the City. Total project cost is estimated at #1.1M. Grant amount
applied for is $615,000. The difference is made up by cash and in-kind contributions of partner
organizations.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Entrepreneurship and innovation contributes to economic growth in the community. The Centre
provides programs and services that support and compliment other community entrepreneurial
initiatives essential to the commercialization of small business as a collaborative partner within this
ecosystem.
INFORM The Province (Ministry of Research and Innovation) will announce the funding
agreements to Municipalities with Small Business Enterprise Centres once the agreements have
been signed.
COLLABORATE The City of Kitchener Waterloo Region Small Business Centre communicates,
consults and collaborates with a broad range of community groups, organizations, agencies,
secondary and post-secondary institutes, municipal, regional and provincial governments to ensure
the entrepreneurial services and programs address the needs of small business in the community.
The volunteers for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and the Board of Advisors are
representative of these community groups.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, CAO
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