Top feature photo: Chris Chinkiwsky at his desk in Coba Studios & Print House.

Above photos: At top Chris at work in the shop, labels for Mrs. McGarrigle's Creamy Honey Garlic Vinagrette and putting the pages of a book together. Photo at left: A selection of colourful cards.

Region's Labour Market Report is here

The 2022-23 Local Labour Market Planning Report is out for the catchment area of Leeds and Grenville.

The report is a compilation of information with community input from local stakeholders in the fall of 2022. It outlines labour market trends and potential challenges in workforce development in the region.

"In essence, this report is an employment-based, environmental scan of our community with key statistical reference points to refer to. It is well worth the read," said Frank O'Hearn Executive Director of the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board.

"It assists a variety of individuals to find a strong career path. This includes the unemployed, underemployed and our student population," said Mr. O'Hearn, "The report facilitates 'due diligence' in the decision making process by a wide variety of organizations and citizens in their labour market decisions."

Highlights of the Report:

• Rise in apprentices - 268 new apprentice registrations and 522 active apprentices in 2021-22
• 88% of employers interviewed said they are hiring or intend to hire in the near future
• Population grew by 3.5% with a majority being people retiring to the area.
• There has been employment increases in construction, professional, scientific and technical services, health care and social services.
• Since 2017, there has been a net increase of 124 businesses.

The report provides the Census 2021 results on our population, labour force characteristics, income, changes in employment along with an industry outlook, business counts, Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries, jobs and migration patterns.

The Eastern Workforce Innovation Board is one of 26 workforce boards in the province of Ontario. Its office is located in Gananoque. Funding is provided by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Learn more on the Board's website https://www.workforcedev.ca/ and our most recent Local Labour Market Planning Report https://www.workforcedev.ca/llmp-reports/.

Your feedback is encouraged. If there are any questions contact the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board's Executive Director Frank O’Hearn: frank@workforcedev.ca or call 613-893-3334; or Project Manager Maureen Keeler: maureen@workforcedev.ca or call 613-893-0274

Job Fair in Smiths Falls open to Leeds Grenville Employers

Employers are invited to participate in a regional Job Fair. If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to ontrac Employment Resource Services Job Developer Joanne Watson via email or call 613-283-6978.The registration deadline is Friday, March 10, at noon.

In your RSVP, please include the following information:

• The name of your business / organization
• Any accommodations required

Once your response is received, ontrac will follow up with a request for additional information as well as provide you with specific details about the event to help you in your planning. When confirming your attendance please be prepared to remain for the entire event. Set-up and tear down will take place 30 minutes before and after the Job Fair.

It is hosted in partnership with ontrac Employment Resource Services, the Town of Smiths Falls, the Smiths Falls & District Chamber of Commerce, Valley Heartland CFDC Innovation Centre, the Small Business Advisory Centre, and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. This is in response to Canopy Growth downsizing and community need.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22, 2-7 p.m.

WHERE: Settler's Ridge Centre, 275 Brockville Street, Smiths Falls

Ontario Employment Centres are there to Support Business

The map below shows what employment services organizations cover which areas: KEYS Job Centre, the Employment + Education Centre, CSE Consulting in Leeds Grenville and ontrac Employment Services in Smiths Falls and Lanark County. These services work collaboratively supporting businesses and individuals seeking employment.

Book Your e-Consult Today!

Build your Business for FREE

Digital Specialists offer free resources and support to help you grow your business. Their goal is to help you adopt and implement digital tools and technologies. Businesses in every Leeds Grenville municipality have access to this FREE and valuable resource.

Our trained specialists get to know your business personally and help you access the right resources to adopt new technologies and embrace digital marketing. They can show you how to build a basic website or improve your existing online presence through tools such as Google Business Profile and social media.

Specialists help you optimize your website for search, access POS and inventory solutions, and organize customer databases. They can also help you to access grant funding to help boost your online presence.

We are currently scheduling one-on-one sessions to get you started. Find out for yourself how helpful the Specialist can be to your business.

Contact us today for more information about these programs. Visit the Leeds Grenville website, book a free consultation, call 613-342-3840 x 5368 or email Cyndy Bolton. Flexible time slots are available to serve you better.

Testimonial

“The Digital Specialists are your local guiding hand! Navigating government funding is often a challenge - especially since the requirements always seem to be shifting! The Specialist is a wonderful local resource for any part of the process and questions that arise - or even connect you to digital resources.”



Laurie Sponagle, artist and owner

Artfully Recycled,

Front of Yonge

Small Business Centre Has a New location

The Leeds Grenville Small Business Centre is now located at 32 Wall Street, 3^rd Floor, Brockville. The building is fully accessible and has an elevator.

The Leeds Grenville Small Business Centre is a public-funded initiative with the dedicated mission of helping, training, and enabling those with a small business in Ontario. The Centre is primarily funded by the Province of Ontario with some federal funding and also municipal and private contributions.

The centre provides free consultations, low-cost workshops, and programs to assist small business owners throughout the area. These support services are provided to businesses within the municipalities of Athens, Augusta, Brockville, Edwardsburgh Cardinal, Elizabethtown-Kitley (southern portion), Front of Yonge, Gananoque, Leeds and the Thousand Islands, North Grenville and Prescott. Businesses located outside of these municipalities in Leeds Grenville can connect with Cindy James, Small Business Enterprise Centre – Smiths Falls | Lanark County | Northern Leeds Grenville via email Cjames@smallbizcentre.ca

Team members for the Leeds Grenville Small Business Centre remain the same with the following updated contact information:

Jeanette Johnston - Business Development Officer - Small Business

Email: Jeanette.johnston@uclg.on.ca

Tel: 613-342-3840 ext. 5363

Carol Hardy - Small Business Program Assistant

Email: Carol.hardy@uclg.on.ca

Tel: 613-342-3840 ext. 5367

Mayor's Breakfast in Augusta Township Open to Public

Augusta Township is hosting its annual Mayor's Breakfast with keynote speaker Sueling Ching, President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade. She will be speaking on "Planning for Success."

WHEN: Friday, March 31, Networking 7:30 a.m.; Breakfast 8 a.m. Speaker 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: MERC Hall, 120 E McLean Boulevard, Maitland

COST: $15 (Reregistration and payment is required by Monday, March 27 via debit, cash or cheque at the township office or eTransfer to tax@augusta.ca with a note the payment is for the Mayor's Breakfast)

For more information contact Annette at asimonian@augusta.ca or call 613-925-4231, ext. 105.

Front of Yonge Township Seeking Business Award Nominations

Front of Yonge Township Community Development Committee is seeking nominations for the annual New Business of the Year and Business of the Year Awards. Nominations are due March 15th, 2023.

Categories:

New Business of the Year/Entrepreneur (must be in operation less than 5 years at time of nomination)

Business of the Year (must be in operation at least 5 years at time of nomination)

Guidelines:

• Must be located within the Township of Front of Yonge.
• Home-based and sole proprietor businesses are eligible if they meet the criteria.
• You may nominate yourself / your employer.
• You may nominate a person / business only once.
• Anyone can nominate except for current members of Front of Yonge Council, the Township Community Development Committee, or employees of the Township.

Nomination form hard copies are available at the Township Office, library and pharmacy or by visiting the website.

The event to honour nominees and winners will be held on Wednesday, April 12th at 8 a.m. at the Mallorytown Legion.

EV Charging and Your Business - Where to Start?

New federal regulations will require that at least 20% of new vehicles sold in Canada will be zero emission by 2026, moving to 100% by 2035. As Electric Vehicles (EVs) become more prevalent, how can local businesses proactively ensure they are prepared for the increasing demand for EV charging infrastructure?

Join local industry expert James Darrach of 401 Electric as he explores what business owners need to know in order to strategically prepare and welcome EV charging. James will cover topics such as how to get started, levels of chargers, price implications, electrical servicing requirements as well as incentives available to businesses.

WHEN: Friday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom (provided upon registration)

COST: Free 

To register, email Shelbi McFarlane at shelbi.mcfarlane@uclg.on.ca

First Steps in Exporting

Ontario’s “First Steps in Exporting” program helps companies that are new to exporting familiarize themselves with key steps in growing your international sales in the U.S. and beyond.

In this series, trade experts from the Government of Ontario and professional service providers will guide you through everything you need to know to get started in global markets. Two sessions remain:

• March 9 - Trade Finance, Freight Logistics and Digital Asset Protection
• March 16 - International Distribution, Trade Events and eCommerce

WHEN: Thursday, March 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon; Thursday, March 16, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon

COST: Free

Digital Transformation Grant (DTG) 4.0 Application Workshop

If you own a small business in Brockville, you are likely eligible for a $2500 Digital Transformation Grant (DTG) (offered by Digital Main Street and funded in part by OBIAA and the Ontario provincial government).

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2023, or until funds are fully exhausted. There are a limited number of grants available for the province of Ontario, so we'd love to help you take advantage of this opportunity before it’s too late!

It is free to apply and the process is simple:

1. Register your business at digitalmainstreet.ca/ontariogrants/ and complete the digital assessment
2. Pass the pre-qualification quiz and complete the 2.5 hours of online training
3. Develop your Digital Transformation Plan
4. Apply for a $2500 grant

WHEN: Monday, March 13, 4-6 p.m.

WHERE: Brockville Public Library, 23 Buell Street, Brockville (drop-ins welcome)

COST: Free

You can register your interest here: https://downtownbrockville.com/workshop-sign-up/ (although you are also welcome to drop in!) and if you have any questions, please contact Scout Golbourn at communications@downtownbrockville.com.

Webinar for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation funding program

The Ontario government is hosting an informational webinar about Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) funding program that provides financial support to advanced manufacturing companies across Ontario, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.

WHEN: Today - Tuesday, March 7, 1:15 to 2 p.m.

COST: Free

For assistance with this AMIC webinar please contact: rdp@ontario.ca

AMIC’s third intake round is currently open and will close on March 16, with funding decisions expected by June 14. This provincial funding opportunity by the Ministry of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade offers up to 15% in funding to help offset eligible project costs. The next application window opens on July 20, 2023.

Review the program website and complete a self-assessment to see if your manufacturing project qualifies for AMIC. 

For assistance with your AMIC application, contact Denis Lapierre – Senior Business Advisor at 613.415.834 or by email at denis.lapierre@ontario.ca

Leeds Grenville eNews Deadlines for submitting information:

If you have an upcoming workshop, seminar, or business-related event, please email it to us in advance.

• Submissions for the March 21st edition should be received by Monday, March 13th.
• Submissions for the April 4th edition should be received by Monday, March 27th.

www.investleedsgrenville.com | www.discoverleedsgrenville.com | youtube.com/leedsgrenville

32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9

613-342-3840 | 1-800-770-2170 | econdev@uclg.on.ca