EDC Symposium hears from local business stakeholders

Representatives from approximately 35 local businesses and organizations shared their ideas on economic development for the City of Orillia at the first Economic Development Committee (EDC) symposium at Rotary Place on June 18.

“The City of Orillia is committed to encouraging economic prosperity in a sustainable, responsible manner, and in order to do that we need to hear from our local business stakeholders,” said Mayor Angelo Orsi. “The EDC Symposium provided us excellent feedback on what our business community believes should be economic development priorities. Creating an economic climate conducive to growth needs to be established and then achieved.”

At the symposium, the City of Orillia Economic Development Office provided an update on current EDC initiatives, including their five pillars of economic development, which are business retention and expansion, tourism, research and development, academic advancement and wellness, and marketing and communications. Results from a survey circulated to local business stakeholders prior to the symposium were presented and show a positive outlook on economic development in Orillia. Fifty-five per cent of businesses surveyed responded their business is better than last year, and 78 per cent responded they expect next year to be even better.

Local business stakeholders also took part in a roundtable discussion on future EDC priorities. Topics of discussion included addressing skilled labour shortages, developing a business to business customer loyalty campaign, business training opportunities, tourism development, and marketing Orillia to prospective business. Information from the symposium will be reviewed at the July EDC meeting and considered for implementation in the 2014 economic development priorities.

“We had a lot of healthy discussion and came up with a long list of great suggestions and ideas,” said Dan Landry, Manager of Economic Development. “We’re very thankful to the businesses who took the time to join us. The input provided will be valuable in guiding the direction of economic development initiatives moving forward.”