“The economy is in a funny situation right now,” says Dan Taylor, Innisfil’s economic development catalyst.
While the service sector is still “devastated” by the pandemic, “we have other parts of the economy growing,” he notes.
It has been the goal of the town’s economic development branch to support both aspects, Taylor told council on Wednesday night, as he presented an update, just in time for Economic Development Week.
“We wanted to bring council up to date,” Taylor noted, announcing the launch of a new ‘Buy Local’ campaign, in co-operation with a local news outlet, that has already engaged 45 local businesses as participants.
An earlier ‘shop local’ provincial initiative, Digital Main Street, had relatively poor local participation. “We’re going to dive a little deeper,” he promised, to make the Innisfil program a success and get more businesses involved.
Taylor described the town’s engagement with Nottawasaga Futures to provide “bread and butter” programs that support business, as well as made-in-Innisfil initiatives that included a partnership with the What’s For Dinner delivery service, that helped the company grow from about 300 deliveries per week to 1,500 while supporting local restaurants.
Then he turned to even more innovative initiatives – specifically, DMZ Innisfil, an incubator program designed to provide support for tech start-ups.
DMZ Innisfil has just passed its one-year milestone, Taylor said, explaining, “Our goal, and our association with DMZ Innisfil, is to build an economic ecosystem that did not exist in Innisfil before.”
Through its partnership with Ryerson University, DMZ Innisfil has the capacity to support up to 25 start-ups per year. “We are at 20 right now,” he noted, companies that have created 30 local jobs, $1.5 million in investment, and even more importantly, helped build Innisfil’s reputation as a centre of Innovation.
“We are showcasing Innisfil again as a community that can do big, bold, great things.”
He added, “I don’t want to call it a minor miracle;” instead, it is “good strategy,” hard work and resources, that are now paying off.
The town has applied for a grant to expand DMZ Innisfil’s capacity, Taylor said, especially encouraging development in the “government technology” sector. The municipality is also working on the next phases of its Concierge Service for Investors – harnessing its “one town, one team and cross-functionality… to create an incredible experience when one comes to the Town of Innisfil to invest.”
There has been “extremely strong” interest in a program to attract investment to downtown Alcona, the Expansion and Retention program for existing businesses, the future development of Innisfil Heights, and the Mobility Orbit.
“Industrial investment inquiries are off the charts,” Taylor said, as businesses look to a post-pandemic recovery. “It’s North America-wide, it’s Ontario-wide, and we’re the beneficiaries of that because of our location.”
Servicing of the employment lands along Highway 400 is still “one of our biggest challenges,” he acknowledged, but there is progress in looking at interim solutions. “It’s a partial barrier. It’s not a complete barrier.”
And although COVID-19 also presents challenges, “there’s a lot of good news happening in our community,” Taylor said.
Coun. Kevin Eisses asked for more details about the possible expansion of the DMZ Innisfil program, beyond the current capacity of 25 businesses.
Taylor said that the program is looking at alternative funding sources that could support expansion, including FedDev (Federal Economic Development Agency) funding, and sponsorships. “We do not want to have a cap on our capacity,” he agreed.
Ryerson’s DMZ programs provide support, mentorship and access to capital for entrepreneurial start-ups, and are now located around the world, in locations that include Toronto, New York, Dubai – “and Innisfil. We’re in good company,” he said.
Coun. Donna Orsatti expressed support for two of the town’s new initiatives, in particular – the development of a co-working space at the Innovation Hub that would be available to home-based businesses; and funding to help local businesses build their internet presence. But she questioned how the Town could help its struggling service sector.
Hair dressing salons, tattoo parlours and the like have been shut for a year, she noted.
“We’re on the same page,” said Taylor, noting that the office of economic development has been working to link local businesses with federal and provincial assistance programs, reaching out to companies that have not been getting the support they need.
“It is a difficult situation… but we want to help people that we find or that reach out to us,” he said. “Some of the answers are not easy, at this time.”
Later in the meeting, council voted to extend the lease of the building at 8000 Yonge St. in Stroud, which houses DMZ Innisfil, and the new co-working space.
The Accelerator Hub, operated by Innisfil Accelerates, occupies approximately 4000 sq. ft. on the second floor of the building. Although it has been closed during the lockdown, there are plans to reopen as soon as possible, providing private offices, meeting rooms and co-working space.
The town extended its lease for another two years, with an option for a third.
