HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-17-030 - Amendment Agreement - Digital Innovation Skills Certificate
REPORT TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING: December 11, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business Centre 519 741 2200
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PREPARED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business Centre 519 741 2200
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WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: December 4, 2017
REPORT NO.: CAO-17-030
SUBJECT: CITY OF KITCHENER WATERLOO REGION SMALL BUSINESS
CENTRE AMENDMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE PROVINCE OF
ONTARIO.
DIGITAL INNOVATION SKILLS CERTIFICATE.
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RECOMMENDATION: That the mayor and clerk be authorized to execute an
amendment, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, with the Province of
Ontario to amend the Youth Skills Connections program delivered by the
Kitchener Waterloo Region Small Business Centre as set out in Chief
-16-022
BACKGROUND: The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre delivered a Youth Skills
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Connections Program, (Digital Innovation Skills Certificate or DISC) from Oct 1, 2016 to
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Sept 30, 2017. The Province is amending the agreement to end December 1, 2017. The
program provided youth age 18 - 29 with experiential training in digital marketing, e-
commerce and project management. The students worked on projects submitted by local
small business owners to implement digital marketing and e-commerce solutions.
REPORT:The Youth Skills ConnectionsDISC programprovidedyouth age 18 -29 with
integrated digital skills training, certifications and enable work placement opportunities.The
City of Kitchener andWaterloo Region Small Business Centreworkedin partnership with
local post-secondary institutions, industry sector experts, and technologyand software
companies to provide 60 participants with experiential learning, coursework and expert
coaching.The goal of the program was to place 50 of the 60 graduate students in
employment positions or start a business, after gaining work experience by workingwith the
10 local businesses to execute workplace capstone projects. All students graduate with a
Post-Graduate, Digital Innovation Skills Certificate from Laurier University, a Hubspot
Inbound Marketing Certificate and a Shopify Partner Certificate.
*** 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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After completion of the 1 cohort of the program, May 18, 2017, of 30 graduates 27 have
new employment.
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The 2 cohort graduated on September 26, 2017. Due to the late graduation date the
Province agreed to extend the term of the agreement for an additional 2 months, to
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December 1, 2017. Staff continued to assist students with job placements. Of the 30
graduates from the 2nd cohort 25 have job placements. A total of 52 of 60 students were
placed in new employment as a result of this program.
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There was a surplus in the program budget at September 30, 2017, therefore no additional
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funds were received to continue the program to December 1, 2017.Any surplus funds at
December 1, 2017 are returned to the Province.
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:
None
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 Economic Development and Growth) posts the project
on the Provincial website.
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: Dan Chapman, CAO
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