HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Development March 2010 Project UpdateCity of Kitchener
Economic Development Project Update – February 2010
The following is a brief update on the current status of major economic development
related projects underway in the City of Kitchener.
City Centre Condominiums
City Centre Condominiums Development Agreement has been finalized and approved
by Council. The project Site Plan is being prepared and consultation on this has begun
with City Departments. http://www.kitchener.ca/centreblock/
King Street Reconstruction
Work on outstanding CAF items continue. Draft schedule has been developed for
Phase II. Currently proposing work from Gaukel to Water first, Water to Francis second.
Expected to begin early April.
Downtown Retail/Business Attraction Strategy
BIA and the City are working together to develop a joint strategy.
Façade Grant Program
This program continues to draw a great deal of interest from business & property owners
in the downtown. Application for the 2010 Façade Grant program closed December 22,
2009. Nine applications were received with a construction value of over $360,000.
Applications will be reviewed over the next few months to allocate the $100,000. Of the
ten approved projects in 2009, three are completed, five are near completion and two
have extended their start to 2010.
Digital Media Cluster Strategy
Communitech has been awarded $26 million from the Province of Ontario to facilitate the
development of the downtown Digital Media Convergence Centre. It will be known as the
Communitech Hub – A digital media and mobile accelerator. Detailed site planning is
now underway and The Hub is expected to open in the spring.
http://www.communitech.ca/uploads/NewsArticle/707_2009-11-
06provincialfundingfordigitalmedia.pdf
Life Sciences Cluster Strategy
Strategic Development Services has completed work on a study to assess the possible
demand for a life sciences incubator. This work included an extensive set of interviews
with private sector and academic researchers. It was released on December 7, 2009.
The analysis will form the basis of a business case for a life-sciences commercialization
facility in Kitchener. Communitech’s life sciences Peer2Peer meetings have been well
attended and are continuing in the spring of 2010.
GO Transit
The Minister of the Environment has approved the GO Transit Environmental
Assessment. In the EA, consideration was given to implementation in 2011 subject to
Provincial priorities and funding. This was a significant hurdle to the project. Funding for
the expansion remains uncertain. Ridership numbers for the GO Transit bus service
from the Waterloo Region to its Milton station and Mississauga are meeting expectations
and GO has expanded the service to accommodate growth in peak demand periods.
Charles and Benton Parking Structure
The Charles & Benton Garage is proceeding well. Currently they are forming for the
fourth floor pour and are on track to have the garage open to the public by Sept 2010.
There have been no issues with access or deliveries to adjacent businesses now that
Halls Lane and Siegner Lane have been closed due to overhead work.
http://www.kitchener.ca/charlesbenton/
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Kitchener Public Library
Detailed design of the central library and underground parking garage continues.
Detailed design costing and preparation for the site plan application are underway.
Key Milestones:
Contractor and major trades prequalification RFP issued March 22, 2010
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Council approval of prequalified contractors May 17, 2010
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Project tender issued June 30, 2010
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Council approval of tender award August 30, 2010
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Construction October 2010 – January 2013
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Further details, including renderings of the library and garage schematic designs can be
found at http://www.kpl.org/central/
Civic District Parking Structure
The Civic District Garage is nearing completion of the detailed design. Issues related to
access design, connections to the Regional Headquarters building and servicing have all
been addressed. The tender for the underground parking structure will be coordinated
with that of the KPL addition and renovation.
Manufacturing Innovation Network.
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An event to celebrate the first anniversary of the launch of MIN was held on January 28
at CIGI, with approximately 150 people in attendance. 43% of the attendees were
manufacturers, with 57 from within the Region, as well as a few from outside our area.
There were also representatives from municipal, regional, provincial, and federal levels
of government in attendance.
MIN has received funding from the National Research Council of Canada under its IRAP
program to increase its outreach initiatives. These funds will also help to complete the
Classified Ad facility, and the Service Provider directory.
The average number of new members joining MIN since launch in January 2009 was
43.5 per month.
MIN was also the recipient of an EDCO Marketing award, presented by the Lieutenant
Governor of Ontario at the Economic Developers Association of Ontario President’s
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Dinner in Toronto on February 4. The award was for “Marketing using Technology.”
Representatives from the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, Canada’s
Technology Triangle, and IGLOO Inc. were in attendance to accept the award.
Court House
The Ministry of the Attorney General and Infrastructure Ontario has announced that
Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) is the preferred proponent selected to design, build,
finance and maintain the new Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthouse. Construction
will commence in early spring 2010. Substantial completion is expected in mid-2013.
http://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/news/io_news/2010/jan1810/WRCC%20Preferred
%20Proponent%20NR.pdf
Small Business Centre
The small business centre completed its winter series of 8 business development
workshops for start up businesses and piloted a “New Importers Workshop” attendance
was over 40 participants in each, these sessions will be repeated in the spring. The
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centre is also hosting 12 free sessions “Transition to HST” from March to June. Our 3
annual “High Impact Retail” event, in February, attracted 80 local retailers. The success
of this event can be attributed to collaborating with the Uptown and Downtown BIA’s.
In February 2010 staff participated as a panelist on CTV’s ProvinceWide report “Starting
Over Life After Downsizing”. The journalist interviewed and featured three new small
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business clients who successfully started their companies and had been assisted by the
Centre’s Business Advisors.
Key Milestones Kitchener Small Business Centre 2010:
17% increase in inquires and consultations
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1115 new business registrations
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840 attended workshops
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11,190 total inquiries
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Kitchener Market Update
The Market place:
Construction of the Market place, a multi-use facility is now complete. It consists of a
commercial kitchen, flexible meeting and event space and is equipped with internet, P.A.
and screen. Programming is being offered to all demographics and will focus primarily
on the importance of buying local and fresh, cooking and eating healthy as well as other
special interest activities. Programming begins March 31, 2010. The Market Place will
provide an entirely new level of service to the local community and surrounding area.
One of the goals of this project is to provide opportunities for new and current customers
to visit the Kitchener Market and educate them on cooking and eating healthy and offer a
variety of culinary experiences while promoting the importance of purchasing and eating
local food. Attracting customers who may have never been to the Kitchener Market will
present new possibilities for future spending on local foods and on retail/food services
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that support the local food system. The Grand Opening was held on Saturday, March 13.
There was the official ribbon cutting, live entertainment and FREE cooking
demonstrations throughout the day. For a complete list of upcoming programming visit
the Kitchener Market website.
Kitchener Public Library:
The Kitchener Public Library joined us at the market for approximately two years until
their construction is complete. We at the market are very excited with this new
partnership. The library programming will draw additional traffic to the market.
Market Events:
We are now offering Kids Hop two days a week (Tuesdays & Thursdays). Beginning in
April through to October, the market will be hosting at least one major event/festival a
month including Bloomin’ Earth, Silk Road, Cruisin’ On King, Blues Festival and
Oktoberfest.
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