KEDCO Update: Week Ending February 24, 2012

Published on: 2012/02/26 - in Releases

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT PROGRESS & ACTIVITIES

Business Development

The Entrepreneurship Centre at KEDCO is now accepting applications for Summer Company 2012.  Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Summer Company Program gives students between the ages of 15-29 years grants of up to $3,000 to start their own business. Interested students are encouraged to contact Rebecca Darling, Business Advisor at 613-544-2725 ext 7237 or darling@kingstoncanada.com  or to visit http://www.ontario.ca/summercompany  for more information on eligibility and program requirements. Program spaces are very limited. Interested students are encouraged to apply by April 1.

On February 27 and 28, John-Paul Shearer, Director of Business Development will attend the Creative Economy Summit in Toronto. The Creative Economy Summit focuses on best practices, case studies and innovative strategies that will drive economic growth, increase job growth, boost tax revenue and attract new investments. Desired outcomes from the conference will be new strategy development around attraction of people to Kingston; developing Kingston’s profile as a centre for innovation; and, the further development of sector clusters within our community.

Kingston is proud to be host city for the 2012 Town Gown Association of Ontario (TGAO) Symposium taking place May 13 – 15 at the Four Points Sheraton. Peers from across the province will gather to share best practices and learn how to improve town-gown relationships and projects in the community. The 2012 TGOA Symposium is proudly hosted by the City of Kingston, Kingston Economic Development Corporation, Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College and the Royal Military College of Canada. For registration information, please visit http://www.kingstoncanada.com/tgao2012. Special discounted rates are available of Kingston residents.

Tourism Kingston

Rob Carnegie, Director of Tourism and Marketing Development was in Ottawa on February 22 and 23 to conduct sales calls with qualified corporate and government meeting planners. Carnegie met with a variety of associations to introduce Kingston as a destination for meetings, conferences and special events.

Corporate

The next meeting of the KEDCO Board of Directors will take place on Monday, March 5 in the Innovation Park Boardroom. The agenda includes a briefing from the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce President John Ryce and Chief Executive Officer, Matt Hutcheon. Ryce and Hutcheon will discuss the Chamber’s new five year strategic plan which focuses around advocacy, networking and education.

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Release source: Kingston Economic Development Corporation