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6. How do you propose to stimulate the local economy to attract new enterprises in order to generate decent-paying jobs that are urgently needed in Owen Sound?

 

MAYOR

 

Ian Boddy


We've made investments toward economic growth, and we can't stop now. We've invested in infrastructure in order to have development ready land and have launched an entrepreneurial attraction campaign. Business and large industrial tax rates have been reduced from the highest in the province to be competitive. Our City has some great success stories. Owen Sound is a great place to invest. Together, we all need to share those positive stories. We need to keep the momentum going.

 

Ray Botten
I believe my stimulus package will be the very key to this solution. Allowing our citizens to not pay the usual tax budgeted amount will generate our economy. It will have some key spin offs that most would gladly welcome! Namely a faster growing economy that will sustain itself and create jobs!!!

 

DEPUTY MAYOR

 

Brian O'Leary
I talked earlier about creating a positive environment for growth, development and business. In 2018, a shift in tax rates continued to provide relief for larger industry uses – our biggest employers. This positive environment has shown tremendous results – the growth in MacLean Engineering, the Belfor expansion, and Belwyck expansion are all jobs! The most recent announcement from BWXT and Brotech are also tremendous news for skilled workers. The partnership with Grey County and Georgian College – The Regional Skilled Trades Training and Innovation Centre will help ensure our residents have the skills to successfully fill these jobs. The Development Charge holiday also supports the construction of industry, creating good paying jobs for these skilled workers and also creates assessment growth! I will continue to work with council to support this positive growth environment.

 

Paul Patille
We presently do not have any major means of transportation (besides the car): no trains, no buses and no real harbour. What we do need is a low cost public campaign to exploit tourism in the Owen Sound area to the province and possibly to the rest of Canada. (like Newfoundland and Labrador)

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Steven Hencze
Jobs are getting to be more and more low pay .. part time .. employers have more choice to cherry pick applicants because they have supreme education ... even with a masters I talk to people making $25 per hour .. how crazy is that ... I think we need to attract business owners for the city's who want to be here for it's natural beauty .. so they love it here .. not just the bottom line

 

Richard Thomas
I believe council's role is stimulating the economy by creating the circumstances in which businesses can thrive, and I think we're on the right track. Industrial and retail tax rates have dropped, and recently, two new nuclear related industries have announced plans to locate in Owen Sound. Two existing industrial employers, Bellwyck Packaging and McLean Engineering have announced expansion plans. I believe that our council has clearly delivered the message that Owen Sound is open for business, and business is listening. I believe there will be more announcements of this sort as we continue on the course we have set. I also believe the continuation of the 'Are You Most' Campaign will attract more entrepreneurs and attention to our community, generating even more jobs.

 

Bill Twaddle
Aside from a community improvement program, provincial legislation and regulations prevent municipalities from offering tax incentives or any other form of "bonuses". In addition to the CIP review suggested above, the city must review its development policies, its official plan and its zoning bylaws with a view to simplifying things for developers.

 

Riel Warrilow
This ties back in with the business vacancies downtown. High quality of life for workers and a reputation for cooperation from the city will draw in the businesses we want.

 

Jacquie Furtner
Companies that are looking to relocate are looking less for tax breaks and more for what the atmosphere of the community is. They know that the talent required to run their business successfully will want to live somewhere that has character, charm and things to do when they are not working. Quality of life is more important than ever. Owen Sound has this to offer and if branded and marketed properly, we can leverage these qualities to attract new enterprise. I have been researching how other communities across North America are attracting new businesses and the most efficient and effective way seems to be putting together a recruitment team. This could be comprised of any number of people, including a real estate agent, someone from economic development, an ambassador, a building owner with empty store fronts, etc.

This will not happen overnight, but with small, incremental, development, we can build a community that will continue to attract new business as well as cultivate from within.

It would also be prudent to look into our policies for opening new businesses. Is there any red tape we could remove or reduce? Are there any incentives we can offer?

 

Denae Moores
The simple answer is to create the environment where we maintain or grow the stability of our current businesses. These organizations are our employers, present and future. Their success will say as much about our community as any ad campaign.

But we also need to be progressive about the new developments or industry we are seeking to attract. It's a question of whether we want to compete with other communities for the same company, or look ahead to the future trends.

And we need to do better with sport tourism in Owen Sound. When I compare us to other tourist communities nearby, they just all seem to better have advertising campaigns that brings next level awareness to them. And in my personal experience, returning home in 2016 to run a small business, there was no mentorship or programs to ensure my success. An established program to assist current and incoming small business owners with accounting, advertising, marketing, etc would be a valuable asset in retention of our local economy.

 

John Tamming
A growing downtown core, more responsible development of our waterfront, a couple more brew pubs – we may only be a decade away from a city core which is on a roll. That said, the city can only work with the county to set the table for investment. Again, it is not as though the last city council was asleep at the switch:

• Continue to encourage the Bluewater Angel Investor Group in any way we can
• Continue to develop the skills training centre at the old Sydenham school
• Continue to consult with and listen to talented persons such as Savanna Myers (county economic development manager).

 

Marion Koepke
I think the campaign program the City currently has in place to bring new entrepreneurs to the City is a first step it the right direction to boosting our local economy. We are known to be "too big to be small and too small to be big" so we are caught in the middle. Encouraging small businesses to open here that do not require large expenses of trucking costs and transportation of goods would be a program that we need to continue to work on. The recent partnership with businesses supplying Bruce Power is a great example of hopefully bigger things to come.

 

Gail McCartney
I think Council needs to really listen to enterprises that choose not to come here or are sitting on the fence. I know there is good information out there from multiple sources as to challenges and benefits of locating here.

 

Travis Dodd
I believe it is Council's role to implement policies that help businesses succeed. One thing that has occurred was the reduction of large industrial and commercial tax ratios. This has been something that was in the works for several years, however in the 2018 tax year we were able to expedite the process due to the increase in development we saw in the 2017 year. These changes to the tax ratios can help attract future manufacturers like we have seen recently through the announcements of BWXT, N.E.S.T. and Brotech which will be 50 + good paying jobs. It also sends a message to our current businesses that we want to help them expand, which has occurred with Bellwyck Packaging and MacLean Engineering.

The City also needs to continue targeting startup businesses and businesses that can work remotely from larger centres. There have been many positive stories come from the "Are You Most?" campaign as well as the advancements of our technology sector that continues to grow. We need to continue targeting individuals who can work from their home, and can be a part of our community.

 

Brock Hamley
In a world that is becoming increasingly connected, it's important that businesses feel they can reach the markets and audiences that they need to, when they need to; which is why one of my top priorities, if I'm fortunate enough to earn the support of the people of Owen Sound, is to advocate for faster, more reliable fibre internet access. Not only will this have a positive impact on established businesses, but will help bring new businesses and provide good paying jobs for the people of Owen Sound.

 

Carol Merton
Stimulating the economy is a responsibility of all levels of government and the private sector. A critical issue holding us back is the lack of available, affordable, accessible and adequate housing for all income levels. Jobs mean nothing if we don't have housing. Jobs and housing are linked. The vacancy rate in Grey County is 1.7%, far short of the desirable 3%. Real estate agents suggest the stock of housing is low, leading to price escalation based on demand. While new housing developments are coming on stream in the next couple of years, affordable housing continues to be a serious challenge. I want the city to seek out and work with all possible partners to ensure available, affordable, accessible and adequate housing for everyone.

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