HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Development - 2002-12-18ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
December 18, 2002
11:00 am- 1:00 pm
JG Group, Roger Street, Kitchener
Attendance:
Staff:
Regrets:
Glenn Scheels
Lawrence Bingeman
Henrik Noesgaard
Mike Sully
Peter Cook
Ray Robinson
George Borovilos
Patricia Bacon
Councillor, Christina Weylie
Councillor, John Smola
Paul Kuntz
Peter Benninger
Scott Baird
Mayor, Carl Zehr
Joan Euler
Shawky Fahel
Hans Pottkamper
Sandy Curzon
Kathy Bissell
Jane Jantzi
Councillor, Berry Vrbanovic
Manfred Conrad
1. Approval of Minutes of November 27th, 2002
Minutes of November 27th, 2002 were approved with the following amendment:
Item 2. Urban Investment Strategy- add to comments 'the issue of fairness needs
to be addressed'
Moved by Mike Sully
Seconded by Shawky Fahel
Carried
2. Canada's Technology Triangle
John Tennant, CEO of Canada's Technology Triangle (CTT) provided Committee with
an update on where CTT is currently and their relationship with other municipalities;
how he sees CTT and its role, and; CTT's Business Plan, which will be forthcoming in
the new year.
Mr. Tennant explained that he took the role because he "believed very profoundly in
our Regional Economy". He added the following comments:
an opportunity to sell a great product outside the Region
working together to attract investment - can't succeed if you aren't a team player
Staffing include: Manager of Marketing & Communications - Linda Fegan; Director
of Business Development - Bill Elliott; Marketing Coordinator - Thom Ryan;
Executive Assistant - Eileen Mathewson and; Receptionist - Elisa DeFoe
Mr. Tennant then discussed his goals:
Develop a program of corporate partnerships
Stabilize long term funding from Region and Municipalities of Kitchener, Waterloo
and Cambridge and possibly matching funding from provincial and federal
government
Stepping up the Ambassador Program
Leading Technology and Strength in Training
Align efforts to target and attract businesses for the Region
- Automotive Sector - SIOR
- Information/Communication Technology- COMDEX
- Passportto Success
- National Real Estate Forum
- Possible event to draw the GTA
- Site Selectors- CoreNet
Promoting the Region
- Business Plan- early February
- Prosperity Forum
- Regional Growth Plan
- Study Analysis - foreign investment is well above average
Comments to Questions:
Sharing lead sheets and trade show participation will assist in tearing down any
silos that still exist between CTT the Region and Municipalities
CTT assists Communitech externally in attracting venture capital partnerships and
attracting a highly skilled workforce
In order to respond to an inquiry requiring very specific building size,
supplied quarterly with data from the municipalities which provides a
turnaround to all inquiries
CTT is open to meeting with Realtors to discuss sharing live information
CTT is not directly involved with Tourism
CTT is
24 hour
Mr. Scheels thanked Mr. Tennant on behalf of Committee. EDAC is looking forward to
working with CTT on their new focus, new initiatives, land and employment needs.
3. Other Business
Growth Management Strategy
· The Region has released a background report. Committee will receive in
advance the section on Employment Lands to discuss at their January meeting.
Downtown School Closing
· The School Board has decided to close one of the downtown schools, and is
currently going through a process to determine which one. There was concern
expressed by EDAC that the Board needs to understand demographics and
funding.
EDAC Minutes
December 18, 2002
· The effect on community needs to be addressed at the Provincial level.
too late, even though the School Boards may disagree.
· Chamber should be involved
It's not
· Economic Development
· Deferred to a future meeting to discuss structure and relationship with CTT
Meeting called to adjourn at 12:10p.m.
Moved by: Shawky Fahel
Seconded by: Mike Sully
Carried
Sandy Curzon, Recording Secretary
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 22"d, 2003
11:00am- 1:00pm
Conestoga Room, Main Floor, City Hall
Kitchener
EDAC Minutes
December 18, 2002