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December 2024

Durham Region Receives Full Intelligent Community Certification 

Durham Region has been recognized as a fully certified intelligent community by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). 

Intelligent Community Certification is an economic development credential based on the ICF’s Community Accelerator Strategy and analytic methods. Meeting ICF’s Certification standard provides objective validation that Durham Region has high-quality connectivity, effective workforce development, a business innovation ecosystem and meaningful community engagement, digital inclusion and sustainability programs in place. 

These qualities combine to support the growth of innovative businesses, to meet their talent needs and provide inclusive prosperity and a high quality of life. Certification will remain in place until October 2027. 

Invest Durham and Ontario Tech University’s ACE will exhibit in a joint booth at tech’s biggest show, CES, in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10, 2025. 

Put on by the Consumer Technology Association, CES bills itself as the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. Invest Durham is looking forward to using the global platform to showcase the Region’s competitive advantage and innovation across all sectors, including advanced manufacturing.

Businesses looking to explore new opportunities and collaborations in Durham Region are invited to meet directly with Invest Durham and ACE at CES.

Take the Durham Music Industry Survey  

Help grow the music industry in Durham Region. If you live in Durham and either work in the music industry or aspire to be a musician or are even just passionate about music, take part in this brief online survey.

The questionnaire takes only five-to-10-minutes to complete but your answers will help Invest Durham understand how music shapes the economy and community at a regional level.

Survey responses are confidential. 

 Build Business Growth in Oshawa 

Oshawa businesses are invited to complete a 10-minute survey to share their priorities and the opportunities and challenges that impact their work.

It’s part of a business retention and expansion program that was launched by the City of Oshawa Business and Economic Development Services branch. 

Working collaboratively with local businesses through in-person visits and digital surveys, the program aims to deliver insights and support that will promote business growth and retention throughout Oshawa. The initial project scope includes data collection. The survey is open until December 31, 2024. 

Durham Region Relocation Guide: Tell Us Your Story! 

Do you love Durham Region? If you or someone you know moved from another city, province, country or even continent and made one of Durham’s eight municipalities your home, a team of partners working on a Durham Region Relocation Guide want to chat. 

The Relocation Guide is for people relocating to the region--or to encourage it-- and will be a great opportunity to share stories. 

What brought you to Durham? What makes your neighbourhood so special? What are your favourite local hotspots? Tell us your story. 

Signature Sites: The Durham Advantage 

Home to an established energy cluster, a strong transportation network, and a diverse range of industrial and commercial properties, Durham Region is an ideal place to start, relocate, or build a business. Properties are available in various levels of servicing, and new properties regularly come to market.

Featuring more than 40 properties in all eight of Durham’s local municipalities, our Signature Sites package highlights detailed investment information, transportation infrastructure and permitted use and connectivity. 

Watch this video to learn more about the Durham advantage or contact Invest Durham to learn about a specific property. 

Events and Partnerships

Support Small Businesses with Shop in Durham Week 

There are big reasons to shop small and that’s why the Region of Durham has proclaimed December 1 to 7 Shop in Durham Week.

Locally owned and operated small businesses are where a large percentage of our workforce contributes to our economy. Nearly 75 per cent of Durham businesses employ 10 people or fewer.

Durham Tourism is working alongside the Region’s local municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade and Business Improvement Areas to encourage local shopping and investing in the economic vitality of our communities.

Shoppers are encouraged to visit ShopInDurham.ca for holiday gift guides and to tag Durham Tourism on Facebook and Instagram while sharing their purchases with the hashtag #ShopInDurham.

Boost Your Business Knowledge 

Contact North is offering clients a reduced rate for an upcoming micro-credential at Trent University if they register before December 12.

The Business Essentials and Strategies micro-credential is an eight-hour online course that offers strategies for small and medium-sized business owners to incorporate topics including cyber security, how to use Artificial Intelligence in a business setting and skills-based hiring.

The program starts January 2025. Email Contact North at DurhamRegion@ContactNorth.ca for more information about registration.

Recent Business News

The Federal Government is investing $7 million for the expansion of Project Arrow 2.0—the next phase of the Canadian-made zero-emission concept vehicle. Learn more about the investment.

Newcastle farmer Quinton Gibson shares how he puts technology to work at his 300-acre apple farm. Read the Globe and Mail article to see how tech is improving output. 

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has chosen Worley Chemetics to design and fabricate its isolation condenser system for the BWRX-300 small modular reactor. The work will be done at its fabrication facility in Pickering. Read more about the partnership.

With a goal of buying a home within an hour’s drive of Toronto and a budget of $800,000, a couple realizes their dream in Durham Region. Follow The Chase in Toronto Life. 

Contact Us

Toll-free: 1-800-706-9857

InvestDurham.ca 



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