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The Packet & Times
Bringing Orillia businesses together to educate their employees is one way the Sunshine City is working to spur economic growth.
"We can find efficiencies by getting a number of them together... as opposed to individual businesses who might be looking for that training," said Dan Landry, the city's manager of economic development.
Business training is one of four main focuses of Orillia's business retention and expansion (BRE) committee, a pillar of the city's economic development committee (EDC).
The subcommittee held a project wrap-up and reception Thursday at city hall to unveil plans developed in a recently completed BRE study.
In 2011, with partners like the Orillia Area Community Futures Development Corporation (CDC), the Orillia campuses of Lakehead University and Georgian College, the committee hosted two export training sessions, two marketing 101 sessions, succession planning, an innovation session and a small-business trade show.
The CDC has been conducting training sessions for a couple of years, but through the BRE survey, they were able to determine the types of training Orillia businesses require, said Wendy Timpano, general manager of the CDC.
"With the need identified, it's great that we can help contribute to address what the businesses need," she said.
Training sessions planned for 2012 include succession planning, exporting and marketing.
During BRE discussions, Kubota Metal Corp., which likes to promote internally, identified a need for skilled labourers.
"We take people who have started off at entry-level positions and need to move to specialized positions," said Matthew Webb, manager of customer service with Kubota. "With that in mind, we need specialized training."
Kubota worked with Georgian College to develop a training program for employees.
"With the BRE survey itself, we were able to make connections with Georgian College and developed a specific training program," Webb said.
The BRE subcommittee, which recently completed its final report, has encouraged Orillia businesses to communicate with one another.
"Just getting the businesses together to be able to solve some problems is a good idea," Landry said. "You never know what might come out of it."
Putting a focus on existing businesses is important, Mayor Angelo Orsi said during the meeting.
"We have to look at the businesses we have here who have invested serious dollars and have a staff and have a product line that is already successful," Orsi said. "We want to make sure we keep that growing, bringing more jobs and commerce."
Along with business training, the committee is putting a focus on developing a "buy local" campaign, improving the relationship between city hall and businesses and addressing shortages in skilled labour.
Forty-five per cent of Orillia businesses taking part in the BRE project are considering growth, the survey found.
"(It) is really about how do we make sure the businesses that are already here are able to thrive and survive," Landry said.
For CCI Thermal Technologies Inc., that was achieved, in part, due to the city putting a three-year moratorium on industrial development charges.
The Hunter Valley Road business is doubling the size of its plant with a 50,000-square-foot addition.
"There were many other factors involved, but the city's co-operation certainly made the decision to expand in Orillia easier," said Bob Hart, operations manager with CCI.
The BRE subcommittee has partnered with the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce to develop the "buy local" campaign.
Buying locally also applies to local businesses themselves, Landry noted. www.orilliabre.ca
