Economic Development eNews | February 12, 2019
|
|
Top feature photo: Joanne and John Edgley in their Athens restaurant.
|
Above photo: Harley Edgley. Below photos Zack Edgley and brothers Mark and John and Terry Burnham.
|
|
JJ's Country Diner keeps things sizzling
|
ATHENS - JJ's Country Diner namesakes Joanne and John know how to garner rave reviews.
Already quite famous for the highly successful Snack Shack chip wagon they once operated on County Road 29, the couple has now transformed a historic Athens restaurant with a keep-them-coming-back menu and fast, friendly service. The parking lot is often overflowing since they opened the homestyle eatery last June.
"Our customers from the chip wagon, some from as far away as Pennsylvania, have followed us here," says John Edgley of the location that was once a bowling alley. "We have loyal customers and now new repeat customers. It tells me this was meant to be."
Fan favourites are poutine, pizza, and pasta -with their special sauces made in-house. Many come in for the daily soup, lunch and dinner specials. There are burgers, wraps and salads, homemade pies, gluten-friendly options and, of course, in-house fresh cut fries. Their fries once earned them a spot in Ontario's top 9 as voted by Cottage Country magazine readers.
The eatery has become a hot spot for the breakfast crowd. Other hits are wing night and buy one get one half price pasta night.
"We've exceeded our expectations in sales," says John of their first months in a bricks and mortar restaurant. "We want to thank the community from the bottom of our hearts. Everyone has been very supportive" say both Joanne and John.
JJ's employs 12, mostly family members, including the couple's daughter Harley, son Zack, brother Mark Edgley, sister-in-law Tammy Edgley, nephew Logan Durant and uncle Terry Burnham.
"We've got a good team. It's one big happy family," says Joanne. "We are a true family business."
Check out JJ's on their
Facebook page (where they have a near 5-point rating) and
website. Give them a call at 613-924-0580 or send them an
email.
The family-style restaurant, located at 68 Main Street East, Athens (County Road 42), offers dine-in and take-out service. The couple has also re-opened the property's banquet hall for meeting and special event rentals.
|
|
Augusta Township Mayor's Breakfast March 1st
|
The theme of this year's annual Mayor's Breakfast is "Staying Ahead of the Curve." The keynote address will be given by Canarm Ltd. CEO David Beatty. Economic updates will be presented by Augusta Township Mayor Doug Malanka, Elizabethtown-Kitley Mayor Brant Burrow and Municipality of North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford.
WHEN: Friday, March 1. Registration at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at 8 a.m. Presentations beginning at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Grenville Snowmobile Club, 4901 Charleville Road, north of Maynard
COST: $10.
Register by Monday, February 25th.
|
|
International Women's Day celebration is all about gender balance
|
The annual Celebration of Women Entrepreneurs in Our Community event will focus on building a more gender-balanced world with the theme #BalanceforBetter.
The keynote speaker is MS2 Productions owner Melissa Schenk, a high-impact, online video marketing agency that effectively brands, markets and strategizes for businesses and corporations using the most effective means of digital content, media, video marketing, corporate storytelling and live streaming.
WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 4-9 p.m.
Business Showcase 4-6:30 p.m. Dinner 6:30 p.m., followed by the keynote address and Lifetime Achievement Award presentation.
WHERE: Brockville Memorial Centre, 100 Magedoma Blvd, Brockville
COST: $75 (includes business showcase, appetizers and cash bar, three-course meal)
|
|
Keynote speaker Melissa Schenk will feature all of the event's vendors via social media live streaming during the showcase
.
|
|
2018 Tourism Representative Samantha Kinsella at the westbound ONroute.
|
|
Economic Development Office hiring summer staff
|
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office is hiring four summer students for the Highway 401 ONroute Mallorytown Travel Centres. Representatives help visitors find attractions and services to increase visitor spending and length of stay in the region.
The closing date for the positions is
Thursday, February 28, 4 p.m., or until the positions are filled.
- Tourism Representative Supervisor, Summer Student, Temporary Full-time
- 3 Tourism Representatives, Summer Students, Temporary Full-Time
|
|
Summer Company 2019 program accepting applications
If you've thought about running your own business, are a student aged 15 to 29 and returning to school this fall, you may be eligible for the Summer Company. Through the program, you can get start-up money to kick off a new summer business along with advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and running.
The deadline for general program applications is May 19th. For Specialist High Skills co-op students the deadline is April 29th.
|
|
Importing 101: An introduction to Importing in Canada (Basic)
This seminar will provide a broad outline of what you need to know to start importing goods from abroad, including financial issues, Canadian import regulations, labeling, quotas, permits and licences, Free Trade agreements and their impact. The session will teach important details impacting your bottom line and how to avoid mistakes and maximize revenue. The session is presented by Christian Sivière
of Solimpex, an import-export consulting company.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 27,
10 a.m. to 12 noon.
WHERE: Small Business Advisory Centre, 91 Cornelia Street West, Entrance B, Smiths Falls.
COST: $22.52
|
|
The Basics of Exporting
This workshop will give you an overall view of what you need to know to export goods abroad: financial issues, Canadian export regulations, declarations and permits, logistics costs, Free Trade agreements and their impact, regional differences, the roles of responsibilities of the exporter, importer, carrier, freight forwarder, customs broker and other intermediaries. Christian Sivière is the speaker of Solimpex, an import-export consulting company.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 27,
1-3 p.m.
WHERE: Small Business Advisory Centre, 91 Cornelia Street West, Entrance B, Smiths Falls.
COST: $22.52
|
|
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office
|
|
Ann Weir
Economic Development Manager
|
|
Deanna Clark
Economic Development Officer
|
|
Joanne Poll
Administration / Communications Support
|
|
Shelbi McFarlane
Business Development Officer
|
|
|
32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
