Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-09-050 - 2010 Economic Development Grant ApplicationsKlrre:r R ' • " Economic Development REPORT TO: Council DATE OF MEETING: November 2, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: Rod Regier PREPARED BY: Rod Regier, Tracey DeVille WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: October 30, 2009 REPORT NO.: CAO -09 -050 SUBJECT: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS 2010 RECOMMENDATION: That the recommendation of Report CAO -09 -046 be amended as follows: That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Health Care Recruitment Council as the final year of the annual grant commitment of $20,000 per year for years 2006 - 2010 That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region for the amount of $5,306 which includes a 2% increase over the 2009 grant of $5,202 That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region Inc for the amount of $5,202 which includes a 2% increase over the 2009 grant of $5,100 That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for Skills Canada — Ontario for the amount of $5,306 which includes a 2% increase over the 2009 grant of $5,202 That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre in the amount of $75,000 which does not include an increase over the 2009 grant That the 2010 Economic Development Grant be approved for Canada's Technology Triangle in the amount of $149,000 BACKGROUND: In response to Council approval of report CSD -08 -070, dated August 6, 2008, a new strategy for community grants has be implemented and funding of economic development grants that had historically been managed through the community grants process has been transferred to Economic Development. The 2010 budget process is the first year in the implementation of the new system. The evaluation of eligibility for 2010 funding has been based on the relevance of the application to the implementation of the Economic Development Strategy. The grants to the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre and the Canada's Technology Triangle grants have been negotiated through a partnership process and in these cases the City of Kitchener sits on the relevant boards of advisors or directors. The grant to the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Physician Recruitment program was the product of a commitment by the City to participate in a 5 year program of which 2010 is the last year. REPORT: Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Health Care Recruitment Council This project is a partnership lead by the GKWCC. The City of Kitchener has made a commitment to participate in the project until 2010. The Waterloo Region has experienced significant growth in both medical specialist and general practitioners as a result of this recruitment project and other initiatives such as the development of speciality medical service units at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital as well as the development of the University of Waterloo Health Sciences Campus in Downtown Kitchener. As a result of these investments the Waterloo Region is becoming a much more attractive place to practice medicine. It is anticipated that the requirement for City of Kitchener support for this program will decline over time. The Chamber Health Care Recruitment Council requests $20,000. It has forecast revenues and expenses of $175,500 in 2010. Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region The Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region leads the way in career exploration for youth (Grades 7 - 12), connecting students, educators and employers to promote student success and community prosperity. Our organization facilitates and builds alliances among business, education, labour, government and community partners. We focus on improving school to life transition for the students of Waterloo Region by: • Enhancing employability and life skills • Assisting students in identifying and pursuing personal and career goals • Promoting lifelong learning • Providing experiential learning opportunities The BEP offers programs to support youth engagement with the workplace including • Business Visitation • Speakers Bureau • Science Superheroes • Leading Edge Youth Entrepreneurship Conference • First Time, Full Time - School to Work Conference • Externship Project The BEP grant assists with the ability of the organization to deliver services and develop new programming such as the Sector Forum program currently under development. The BEP is aligned with the City of Kitchener Talent Strategy as outlined in the Economic Development Strategy 2007 -2010. The Business Education Partnership requests $5,306. In 2009, the BEP had revenues of $189,099 and expenses of $188,433. Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region Inc. The Junior Achievement Stay in School Program encourages young people from grades 3 to 12 to remain in school. The program will be delivered to approximately 6000 students in the Waterloo Region. The Junior Achievement Stay in School Program is aligned with the City of Kitchener Talent Strategy as outlined in the Economic Development Strategy 2007 -2010. Junior Achievement requests $5,202 in 2010. In 2009, Junior Achievement of the Waterloo Region Inc. had revenue of $423,212 and expenses of $416,055. The Economics of Staying in School Program has a budget requirement of $63,150 in 2010. Skill Canada — Ontario In 2010, Skills Canada Ontario will be hosting a Young Women's Conference for Grade 7 and 8 students in the Waterloo Region in conjunction with the 21s' Ontario Technological Skills Competition. City of Kitchener funding allows Skills Canada Ontario to obtain matching funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Skills Canada Ontario program is aligned with the City of Kitchener Talent Strategy as outlined in the Economic Development Strategy 2007 -2010. Skills Canada requests $5,306 in 2009. In 2008, Skills Canada Ontario had revenue of $2,236,641 and expenses of $2,154,702. Waterloo Region Small Business Centre The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre is a partnership of the cities of Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener, The Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the Province of Ontario. The WRSBC delivers programming support and advisory services to people starting or operating a small business. The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre assists approximately 12,000 entrepreneurs annually, 7,000 of which are clients of the Kitchener SBC. The number of clients in 2009 grew by 12% over 2008 on a year to -date basis. The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre is aligned with the City of Kitchener with section 6.0 Growing Small Business in the Economic Development Strategy 2007 -2010. The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre requests $75,000 in 2009. In 2008, the WRSBC had revenues of $381,901 and expenses of $368,807. Canada's Technology Triangle CTT is a partnership created by the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the region's business community and its post- secondary educational institutions. CTT's mission is to promote Waterloo Region as Canada's Technology Triangle to attract and expand strategic investment, working with partners to bring capital and talent to the region. CTT is a critical partner of the City of Kitchener in the implementation of the City's Economic Development Strategy. All of the CTT priority's for investment attraction are aligned with Kitchener's objectives of diversifying the urban economy in the areas of Health Sciences, Digital Media and Information Technology, Financial and Business Services and Advanced Manufacturing. Canada's Technology Triangle requests $149,000 in 2010. In 2007, Council approved the recommendation of report CAO -07 -004 to grant CTT $140,000 and increase the City's grant to CTT by $3,000 in each of the following 4 years including 2010. In 2008, CTT had revenues of $1,277,726 and expenses of $1,379,952. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Pending final budget approval, the overall operating budget for annual economic development grants for 2010, as recommended, is $259,814 of which the recommended 2% increase does not apply to Canada's Technology Triangle, the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre or the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Health Care Recruitment Council. The Board of Directors for both Canada's Technology Triangle and the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre approved a zero increase to the grant funding request for 2010. CONCLUSION: The organizations applying for 2010 Economic Development Grants contribute to the ability of the Waterloo Region to attract investment and talent. Their programming is aligned with the City's Economic Development Strategy. City of Kitchener Staff will work with each of the funded organizations to identify and report on performance metrics resulting from their 2010 grant allocations. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Rod Regier Table 1. Summary of 2010 Economic Development Grants Grant Recipient 2010 Funding Services Provided and Economic Approach Community Outcome Development Strategy Alignment Greater Kitchener Annual grant Promotion and 3.0 — Creating, Waterloo Chamber of commitment $20,000 per recruitment services to Attracting, Retaining Commerce Health Care year encourage physicians to and Developing Recruitment Council (2006 -2010) locate in the region — Talent objective is attracting and retaining employees for regional employers Business & Education $5,202 plus a 2% Assist youth in career 3.0 — Creating, Partnership of Waterloo increase for a 2010 total exploration opportunities Attracting, Retaining Region of $5,306 and Developing Talent Junior Achievement of $5,100 plus a 2% Economics of Staying in 3.0 — Creating, Waterloo Region Inc increase for a 2010 total School program — Attracting, Retaining of $5,202 encourages youth to and Developing remain in school to Talent acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to develop a successful career Skill Canada — Ontario $5,202 plus a 2% Support the education of 3.0 — Creating, increase for a 2010 total careers in skilled trades Attracting, Retaining of $5,306 to youth and Developing Talent Waterloo Region Small $75,000 Support the Waterloo 6.0 — Growing Small Business Centre Region Small Business Business Centre encourage and contribute to the enterprising spirit and economic development of the community Canada's Technology $149,000 Continue to support the Identified in the Triangle regional economic Economic development partnership Development Toolkit marketing Waterloo as a partnership to Region and the cities of attract new Cambridge, Kitchener investment and and Waterloo to the world economic activity