Economic Development eNews | May 21, 2019
|
|
Top feature photo: Store manager Shelley Nichols and owner/operator Jim Summers are responding to the needs of their customers. Below photo: Receiver/shipper James Whittaker.
|
|
Building Centre team listens to customers,
expands product lines
|
LANSDOWNE - Farmers and new homebuilders, and all customers in between, can find what they need at Castle Building Centre.
The Lansdowne location, which opened 2 years ago, continues to expand to serve a wider customer base, including cottagers, gardeners, home renovators and deck makers.
"People come to the store for something specific and then see what else we have," says Jim Summers, owner/operator of the business.
"We keep listening to everyone's needs and now we've grown into the farming industry selling Masterfeeds," he says. "It is all positive growth."
Jim also operates Rideau Lakes Building Centre in nearby Crosby, a full lumber and hardware business. He thought an expansion to the Lansdowne location could provide similar services and much more.
"This is a great little spot, great location."
What you'll find in the shop, storage building and lumberyard are numerous products, from seeds, flowers, planters and pots, wood pellets, deck and dock supplies, to plumbing, electrical and building needs, fencing, water tanks, feed, minerals and shavings - something for everyone. Castle offers a delivery service as well.
"The community has been phenomenal - bar none," he says. "We like to call people by name. You need to have that in a small town business so I'm proud to have a great relationship with customers."
"Customer service is what I focus on. If you don't have great service, you don't have anything," says Jim.
Their service area is from Kingston to Brockville, and north to Smiths Falls.
Learn more about Castle Building Centre and Rideau Lakes Building Centre via their
website
, including an online catalogue, see their
Facebook
page, give Shelley a call at 613-659-2383,
email
the store or
email
Jim. You can reach the Crosby location at 613-272-0209.
|
|
SkillsAdvance Program launched for jobseekers, manufacturers throughout Leeds Grenville
|
|
From left: CSE Consulting's Shannon Liscumb, KEYS Job Centre's Trish McNamara, Gananoque Economic Development Manager Cyril Cooper, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Manager Ann Weir, St. Lawrence College's Jamie Puddicombe, local MPP Steve Clark, Prysmian Group Director of Operations John Edwards, Employment and Education Centre's Sue Watts, CSE Consulting's Rod Palmer, Northern Cables CEO Shelley Bacon and Leeds Grenville Warden Pat Sayeau.
|
|
JOHNSTOWN - A new training partnership to help the manufacturing industry in Eastern Ontario attract workers was announced today at Prysmian Group.
Pathways to Production is a SkillsAdvance Ontario project to help 50 unemployed participants gain the skills and work experience needed by Leeds Grenville manufacturing employers. Training for the new cohort is expected to begin this September.
Leeds Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark announced $500,000 in provincial government funding. Partners are Brockville's Employment and Education Centre, Employment Ontario counterparts KEYS Job Centre in Gananoque and CSE Consulting in Prescott, and the economic development offices of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville, Gananoque and Prescott.
"Through this project, we're giving 50 people a fair shot at leaving unemployment and gaining good, permanent jobs," said MPP Clark, who is also the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Leeds Grenville manufacturing sector employees have indicated there is a skills gap in the area. Research conducted by Counties and City of Brockville Economic Development offices support the claim, as do employment service providers.
"We really support it and are looking forward to the project getting underway," said John Edwards, Director of Operations for Prysmian Group.
Employers are encourage to contact economic development and employment services representatives. For more information contact Ann Weir at 613-342-3840, ext. 5365, or send her an
email
.
|
|
Province announces $71-million for connectivity
|
|
Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton, centre left at the podium, was joined by local MPP Steve Clark, centre right, local MP Michael Barrett, fifth from left, area mayors and Eastern Ontario Regional Network representatives at the announcement of funding to eliminate coverage gaps. Below: Minister McNaughton
|
|
BROCKVILLE - The Province of Ontario has announced $71-million in funding for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network project for improving mobile broadband and curing cellular dead zones.
Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton made the announcement Friday, May 17, first in Roseneath, near Cobourg, and then at the main administration building of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
"This is a matter of public safety and economic opportunity," the Minister said. "We all know of examples where people are put in dangerous positions because of dropped calls or lost connections during emergencies."
"This project will help address gaps in cellular networks where people live, work and travel in this region," said Leeds Grenville Warden Pat Sayeau. He noted one of the first questions asked by investors is about the level of broadband and cellular service.
Learn more about EORN and Improving Mobile Broadband Services in Eastern Ontario on their
website.
The public-private initiative requires contributions from the federal government as well as private sector and municipal partners. All members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, and most municipalities within Eastern Ontario, have committed to contributing the $10 municipal share of the funding.
The total value of the project is an estimated $213-million and is expected to generate up to 3,000 jobs over 10 years and potential revenues of $420-million.
|
|
AgriMarketing Program for international exports
The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Component provides targeted support to companies for international initiatives. Under this component, funding will be available to help implement international export plans, which include promotional and market development activities.
Call the program administration at 1-877-246-4682 prior to submitting and application to the program. Applications are being accepted until September 30, 2022 or until funding has been fully committed or until otherwise announced by the program. Visit the
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website
for more information.
|
|
Tourism Reps needed for Mallorytown ONroutes
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office is hiring summer students for the ONroute Mallorytown Travel Centres.
The following positions are open:
- Tourism Representative Supervisor, Summer Student, Temporary FT
- 2 Tourism Representatives, Summer Students, Temporary Full-Time
|
|
 |
Finding funding for new employees and training
"Show Me The Money" is an HR Essentials session providing advice to employers from provincial and federal service providers on where the money is and how to get it. Government funding program representatives with Canada-Ontario Job Grant, Apprenticeships, Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Employment Ontario, Eastern Ontario Development Program and Municipal Funding will be present. The session is targeted at hiring new people and training your existing employees.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 29,
9-11 a.m.
WHERE:
Employment and Education Centre, 105 Strowger Boulevard, Brockville
COST:
Free
|
|
|
|
Employment Standards Update - Bill 66 changes
This session will provide an Employment Standards Act update. Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitive Act 2018, became law on April 3, 2019. It makes changes to a variety of acts and is designed to cut business costs, harmonize regulatory requirements and end duplication/red tape. The session is designed to help employers understand how the changes affect their businesses.
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 11,
1-3 p.m.
WHERE:
Employment and Education Centre, 105 Strowger Boulevard, Brockville
COST:
$20 - Payable by cash or cheque at the door.
|
|
|
|
Space is limited for both of these sessions. Reserve a seat by emailing
Kim
at the Employment and Education Centre.
|
|
Understanding the Employment Standards Act
This is an in-depth session about the Employment Standards Act, and how it affects your business. It is facilitated by Ministry of Labour Employment Standards Officer Leslie Aiston. It will cover what employers need to know, including minimum wage, hours of work, overtime pay, public holidays, vacation and vacation pay, leaves of absence, and more.
WHEN:
Thursday, June 6, 1-3 p.m.
WHERE
: Small Business Advisory Centre, 91 Cornelia Street North, Entrance B, Smiths Falls
COST:
Free
|
|
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office
|
|
Ann Weir
Economic Development Manager
|
|
Deanna Clark
Economic Development Officer
|
|
Joanne Poll
Administration / Communications Support
|
|
Jim Hutton
Business Development Officer
|
|
|
32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
