KEDCO Update: Week Ending February 17, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT PROGRESS & ACTIVITIES

Business Development

On February 13, Christa Wallbridge, Project Manager – Business Development hosted Ann-Marie Kelleher, Economic Development Officer with the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario to Kingston. Wallbridge and Kelleher visited with local companies currently investigating FedDev Ontario funding programs. Kelleher will return to Kingston in March to visit with more interested companies.

John-Paul Shearer, Director of Business Development attended a SMART Prosperity Now session held by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters of Ontario (CME) on February 15 in Kingston. The SMART program, funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario is aimed at fostering the long term growth for small to medium size businesses. To be eligible for SMART Prosperity Now funding, applicants must be a small to mid size manufacturers in Southern Ontario with between 15 – 1,000 employees who are looking to invest in product and process improvements that will develop and expand export opportunities and global competitiveness. Companies interested in the program should visit http://www.cme-smart.ca/.

As part of KEDCO’s Investment Support portfolio, staff are currently working with over 30 local companies to promote the SMART Prosperity Now funding opportunities and currently are working directly with 15 companies to support the writing of their Fed Dev applications.  For more information on KEDCO’s Investment Support services, please contact Christa Wallbridge at wallbridge@kingstoncanada.com.

Tourism Kingston

On February 9, Connie Markle, Conference and Trade Trade Manager attended the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) Tête-à-Tête Trade Show in Ottawa. The annual Tête-à-Tête Trade Show connects over 160 organizations that provide goods and services to the association sector and is open to all Association and Not-For-Profit Executive Directors and Employees, Professional Meeting Planners and Government Procurers.  Over 80 qualified meeting planners visited the Tourism Kingston booth.

Corporate

The Kingston Economic Development Corporation will hold their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the Garrison Golf & Curling Club located at CFB Kingston.  All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Kingston Military Family Resource Centre (KMFRC). The KMFRC is a registered non-profit, charitable organization that supports and enhances the health and well-being of the military community. To register your foursome, please contact Melissa Shorrock, Project Coordinator – Business and Marketing Development at shorrock@kingstoncanada.com or 613-544-2725 ext. 7234.

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Release source: Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Tags: KEDCO, Kingston Business, tourism

Category: Releases