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News
Shifting Global Supply Chains
Organizations like the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Corporation are recognizing the risks and acting. Formulating a Regional Industrial Leadership Team was a first step to respond to the new supply chain landscape.
SLCEDC Member’s Report
Progress, Resiliency and Innovation ...
The first half of 2020 presented unprecedented challenges for business. Head offices overnight created a distributed workforce, supply lines were disrupted and billions of dollars in government support and assistance were distributed. Within days of the epidemic we conducted a regional Business Impact Survey and focused activities on assisting our local existing business to survive and potentially grow – through accessing liquidity financing and other short-term “survival” mechanisms. At the same time, we adapted our tactics to include reimagining disrupted global supply chains and identified local suppliers – supporting the design of a more resilient local supply chain moving forward. This activity led to the formation of a Regional Industry Leadership
Team, bringing together some of the largest locally owned industrial firms in an effort to foster innovation, cooperation and increase local buying. We are continuing to support local firms as we now accelerate our core attraction activities in the final quarter of 2020.
St. Lawrence Corridor – Covid 19 Business Impact Survey
A message from the Chair and Commissioner of the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission on the survey focused on the impact of Covid 19.
It is important for the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission to remain in close contact with our existing commercial and industrial partners throughout this crisis. This survey is one example of the activities we will bring to the market over the coming weeks.
David Beatty
Chair
St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commissioner
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is having an increasingly broad impact on every aspect of our lives. Eastern Ontario is increasingly threatened, with businesses implementing work-from-home policies responding to the provinces’ emergency measures that will ultimately aid in halting the rapid spread of the disease. Unfortunately, people are suffering and businesses are suffering. In times of crisis – immediate action is required.
To gauge how COVID-19 is impacting Eastern Ontario’s businesses, the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission conducted a survey of business owners and executives. Both government and business require more data and more clarity to better manage this evolving situation. The study’s findings and recommendations will be shared immediately with policymakers – who recognize the critical importance of seeing what is happening on the ground today and knowing what will be needed for businesses to move forward when the economy normalizes.
Charlie Mignault
Commissioner
Sarnia’s Bioindustrial Innovation Canada opens new office in Brockville, Ontario
BROCKVILLE, ONTARIO – Based in Sarnia-Lambton, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) is a not-for-profit business accelerator that provides critical strategic investment, advice and services to business developers of clean, green and sustainable technologies.
Today, BIC celebrated the official opening of the new regional office in Brockville Ontario. With a recent contribution from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), BIC has developed the Ontario Bioindustrial Innovation Network (OBIN). OBIN will continue to support the growth of the Hybrid Chemistry Cluster in Sarnia- Lambton and to enable to launch a new Sustainable Chemistry Cluster in the Eastern Ontario St. Lawrence Corridor region centred around Brockville and Maitland. BIC will offer its services for the Ontario Bioindustrial Innovation Network from this new location.
Attending the opening ceremony were senior representatives from BIC, Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario), local representatives from the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission (SLCEDC) as well as local representatives from industry, academia and municipal government from the surrounding townships.
On February 13, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, visited BIC’s Sarnia location and announced $15 million to create a new sustainable chemistry hub to help 150 innovative clean tech companies scale up and grow and create and maintain 700 jobs in southern Ontario.
Quotes:
“The investment in BIC is allowing it to expand its reach to Eastern Ontario, which will help bring businesses to this area, and create a regional sustainable chemistry cluster here with the potential to grow, create jobs, and diversify local economies, while helping to bring new, green technologies to the world. Not only is this great news for Eastern Ontario, but this project will have positive impacts on the sustainable chemistry and clean tech sectors across the province: giving companies access to two diverse cluster sites with a wider range of expertise and
resources.”
Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedDev Ontario)
“We are incredibly happy to open this new BIC office in Brockville. We are excited to see the future development of a second hybrid chemistry cluster that will create jobs, support innovative companies in sustainable chemistry and clean technologies to overcome setbacks to
commercialization.”
A.J. (Sandy) Marshall, Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
About Bioindustrial Innovation Canada:
Creating jobs and economic value sustainably for Canada is the vision driven by Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC). With support from the Government of Canada, BIC is a not-for-profit business accelerator for sustainable chemistry, who has created a successful foundation to support an emerging hybrid chemistry cluster in Sarnia-Lambton, and Brockville Ontario. BIC sees the future development and expansion of the bioeconomy in southwestern Ontario, which can grow alongside traditional petrochemical industries.
BIC further focuses on critical strategic capital investment in SMEs with compelling business plans where innovation in science and engineering can bring about major advances in sustainable chemistry. Sustainable chemistry is playing an important role in the development of solutions to the impacts of climate change, peak oil, energy security, the need for safe water, and the use of scarce natural resources. The increasing global demand for green and safer products offers the opportunity to create thousands of new jobs for Canadians. BIC’s proven approach for clean, green and sustainable chemistry-based companies offers an
ideal platform for the investment necessary to advance hybrid chemistry value chains, providing not only regional economic development and job benefits, but access to global markets.
St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission Collaborates with Minister of Energy
We are developing and implementing a biochemical manufacturing strategy for the St. Lawrence Corridor region – a plan that will increase our global competitiveness and create quality jobs in the science and engineering sector. Today, we met with Energy Minster Greg Rickford – we appreciate his time, enthusiasm, deep understanding of the energy environment and moreover; the importance of contemporary STEM jobs for this part of the province. The round-table he hosted is a great format to share ideas and cross germinate possible solutions to challenging problems. With 40% of the country’s total biochemical production, Ontario is at the centre of Canada’s chemical manufacturing industry. The sector exports just over $13 billion worth of goods and produces almost $19 billion in shipments. Most of the activity takes place in three key regions: Sarnia-Lambton, Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Eastern Ontario. Eastern Ontario’s bio-hybrid chemicals cluster is quickly evolving and we have a number of emerging firms considering locating in the region. Moreover, our industrial biotechnology value chain comprises agriculture and forestry biomass supply, grain, corn and soybean mills, midstream biorefineries and biofuel processors; as well as biomaterial manufacturers – all creating a rich environment for new manufacturers looking for a competitive area to launch their products and services from. We will continue to work towards creating an environment that emerges as a global leader in bio-hybrid chemical manufacturing and are looking forward to collaborating with the province of Ontario to advance this critical economic strategy.
St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission Collaborates with Associate Minister of Small Business
The St. Lawrence Corridor Region is a recognized hub for innovation and is home to world-class biochemical companies. Our organization is committed to create quality jobs, strengthen the regional economy and position Eastern Ontario to be a global centre for talent, innovation and investments in the bioindustrial manufacturing sector. As we continue the development and implementation of a biochemical manufacturing strategy for the St. Lawrence Corridor region – a plan that intends to increase our global competitiveness and create high value quality jobs in science and engineering – today we met with Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business & Red Tape Reduction. We appreciated his insights into Ontario’s plan for economic zones, his enthusiasm, and his understanding of the importance of STEM jobs for this part of the province. The meeting with he and his Chief of Staff, David Donovan, allowed us to share our vision for the biochemical sector and provided a platform to share ideas and cross germinate possible solutions to those challenges facing the region.
With 40% of the country’s total biochemical production, Ontario is at the centre of Canada’s chemical manufacturing industry. The sector exports just over $13 billion worth of goods and produces almost $19 billion in shipments. Most of the activity takes place in three key regions: Sarnia-Lambton, Greater Toronto Area and Eastern Ontario. Eastern Ontario’s bio-hybrid chemicals cluster is quickly evolving and we have a number of emerging firms considering locating in the region. Moreover, our industrial biochemical value chain comprises agriculture and forestry biomass supply, grain, corn and soybean mills, midstream biorefineries and biofuel processors; as well as biomaterial manufacturers – all creating a rich environment for new manufacturers looking for a competitive area to launch their products and services from. We will continue to work towards creating an environment that positions us as a global leader in bio-hybrid chemical manufacturing and are looking forward to collaborating with the Province of Ontario to advance this critical economic strategy.
Fall Perspective 2018
From politician to private enterprise, over 100 attendees heard the Corridor’s Chair, David Beattie, provide first-hand information on the St. Lawrence Corridor’s evolution and direction. Charlie Mignault, the Corridor’s Commissioner provided detailed information on attraction activities.
Regional Economic Commission On Track with New Commissioner
BROCKVILLE – The St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission (SLCEDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Charlie Mignault as its inaugural commissioner. Mignault starts his position immediately with the regional economic development organization spanning seven Eastern Ontario municipalities along the St. Lawrence River.
“The entire board is very happy to welcome Charlie into his new role as our very first commissioner,” said David Beatty, chair of the SLCEDC, after the board of directors meeting on Thursday, Feb. 1 that confirmed the hiring. “Charlie brings with him a blend of enthusiasm, education, and business contacts and experience in Eastern Ontario that makes him a perfect fit here. We are all very excited to get to work with Charlie on bringing new jobs and prosperity to the municipalities of the St. Lawrence Corridor.”
Mignault is a proven leader in both private and public industry who excels in sales and economic development. His diverse background includes his current role as a director and adjunct professor with the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, and past positions as the Director of Business Development, Student Recruitment, and Career Services at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, ON, and as the Director of Business Development with the Kingston Economic Development Corporation.
“What the partner municipalities and industries are doing with the St. Lawrence Corridor represents a great opportunity that I am grateful to accept,” said Mignault. “Helping foster business development in Eastern Ontario has long been a passion of mine. I’m really looking forward to joining this great team and doing all that I can to bring new jobs and new investments into the corridor municipalities that will build up the entire area.”
The SLCEDC is an economic development leadership group formed in July 2017 through collaboration with the partner municipalities of the Township of Augusta, the City of Brockville, the Township of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, Front of Yonge Township, the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, and the Town of Prescott. Its focus is to establish a globally recognized region for companies and entrepreneurs that both attracts new industrial and commercial employers and assists existing businesses to expand and prosper.
For additional information please contact commissioner@slcedc.com
