Economic Development eNews | November 3, 2020 |
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Top feature photo: Marta Ovington and Michael Ladd, co-owners of Marlatek Inc. GermWise Division. Below: A promotional poster and some of their products. |
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Local Marlatek owners
say Prevention is the Key
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BROCKVILLE - Even before COVID-19 changed the world, Marta Ovington and Michael Ladd believed in the importance of good handwashing techniques.
They own Marlatek Inc., a Brockville-based company specializing in innovative health-related products, medical equipment and water technologies that help strengthen the immune system. They also own GermWise, an infection control teaching system sold across Canada and around the world.
"If we didn't know eight months ago, we sure do now," says Michael of the elevated importance of proper hand hygiene and cross contamination training during a pandemic.
GermWise is a teaching aid used wherever a high standard of hygiene is required, including hospitals, clinics, schools (from day care facilities to universities), food preparation and manufacturing and any other environments where germs can multiply.
"People are more aware and the key to everything is prevention," says Marta. GermWise kits help teach people of all ages the proper way to wash hands. It is a great testing and evaluation tool.
"We believe that teaching Infection Control should be simple, easy and fun as well as credible and verifiable," Marta says.
A gel formulation includes artificial germs which illuminate in special ultraviolet light. Trainees with "contaminated" hands then wash their hands. Using the kit, illuminated hands will show where fluorescent 'germs' remain. A powder can also demonstrate the effectiveness of surface cleaning procedures.
"We're moving the needle in the right direction for handwashing," says Michael.
Marta and Michael started their company 23 years ago selling touch-free sanitizer dispensers. They became the master distributer in Canada of the Glo Germ Company and began using the Glo Germ products in their GermWise kits.
"It's all about quality of life. We're passionate about overall health and health products, and providing a high standard of service for our valued customers," says Marta.
"We're constantly researching to have the best and most effective products for our customers," she says, adding they look for innovative ways to provide people with long-term benefits.
"We are motivated and inspired to find products providing solutions," says Michael, adding the pandemic has been a game changer that will permanently alter human behaviour.
They do online sales and ship their products across Canada. Glo Germ kits from mini to HAZMAT sizes are available for purchase. Gels, oils and powder, lamps, Glo boxes and replacement items are sold separately as well. Check online to see their video and training materials.
Learn more about Marlatek Inc. by visiting their website. Their office is located at 1640 California Avenue. You can send them an email or call 613-342-8561. |
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Economic Development Summit |
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Advanced Agenda now available |
Join us virtually for the Annual Leeds Grenville Economic Development Summit being held in partnership with MP Michael Barrett, MPP Steve Clark, the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board and the 1000 Islands, Grenville and Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporations.
The morning will include top-notch speakers, including Trevin Stratton, Chief Economist and Vice President of Policy with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He will bring a global and national snapshot of the economy. The afternoon will feature chat room sessions focusing on Regional Economic Recovery Priorities.
WHEN: Friday, November 20th, 9 a.m.
COST: $10
Supporting Local Food: Instead of a meal with your ticket, we have partnered with My Local Markets to provide you an opportunity to support products made in Leeds Grenville.
Packages are available for $25, $50 and $75 with free delivery for those living within the boundaries of Leeds Grenville. All packages will be delivered the week of November 16th.
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Trevin S. Stratton, Chief Economist and Vice-President of Policy with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. |
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Kemptville Campus Approved
to Offer Skilled Trades Training
KEMPTVILLE - Secondary school students will soon be receiving training for careers in high-demand skilled trades on the Kemptville Campus.
- Truck and Coach Technician
- Heavy Duty Technician
- Agricultural Technician
Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark made the announcement October 23rd, on behalf of Labour, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton. The province is providing funding to allow the Campus to offer up to 20 seats to help meet local demand for training in these important trades. Clark was joined at the announcement by North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford and representatives from the region’s four school boards.
“Today is another big step forward in the revitalization of the Kemptville Campus. I’m so pleased that our government has recognized the need to give students from Eastern Ontario the opportunity to train for a career in the trades close to home – as they have done here for generations,” said Clark. “This is not only great news for secondary school students looking to chart a path in a rewarding career, but for local employers desperate for skilled workers.”
“This announcement represents a significant evolution in the role that Kemptville Campus will play in the education and economic development sectors in our region,” said Mayor Peckford, who is also Campus Board Chair.
Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre is an educational and multi-use facility serving the community of North Grenville and surrounding Area. The Campus includes 630 acres and 17 main buildings, as well as woodlands, cropland, wetland, greenspace, green houses, an agroforestry centre and maple bush, trails, and other buildings - sports facilities, residence, and catering facilities.
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Digital Service Squad Ready to Assist |
The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office welcomes Cyndy Bolton and Rebecca Bredin to the Digital Service Squad team.
Through the Digital Main Street program, funding was received to hire a squad for 16 weeks to assist businesses in Merrickville-Wolford, Westport, Athens, Rideau Lakes, Elizabethtown-Kitley and Front of Yonge with enhancing their digital presence.
The communities of Gananoque and Leeds and the Thousand Islands will be serviced by McKenna Modler. North Grenville will be supported by Ronnie Quesnel and Julie DeBoer. Brockville’s team includes Alex Stobo, Bushra Khadra and Casey Cooke. Prescott, Augusta and Edwardsburgh Cardinal will be supported by Justin St. Pierre.
Over the coming weeks, squads will be reaching out to businesses in the region to see what type of FREE digital assistance they can provide. High on their priority list will be helping eligible businesses apply for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.
Funds will assist main street businesses with digital marketing, website redevelopment, software and eligible hardware.
Deadline for the Digital Transformation Grant is November 30th.
Eligibility includes:
- A business owner with less than 10 full-time employees (or less than 25 employees for a restaurant)
- Businesses located in a storefront / bricks and mortar building on a main street
- A business paying commercial property taxes
If your business doesn’t meet the eligibility outlined above, you may still be able to get FREE digital assistance from our digital service squads. Visit our website for more details and contact information for your local service squad, or call Business Development Officer Shelbi McFarlane at 613-342-3840, ext. 5361
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Counties Digital Squad members Cyndy Bolton (above) and Rebecca Bredin (below). |
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Workshops, Seminars and Webinar Library |
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eCommerce Retailing for Local Merchants
Small retailer or artisan? This webinar with Scott Maybee from Digital Main Street will help you learn the basics of selling online with Shopify, how to get products to your customers, and ways of leveraging both social media and traditional promotional marketing to create integrated e-commerce retail strategies that support your customers and help future-proof your business.
WHEN: Friday, November 6, 9-10 a.m.
COST: Free
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Career Refresh: COVID-19 has Changed our Reality - Prepare your Staff to be Empowered and Safe
Are you exploring ways of engaging your staff as they gradually return to the workplace? Are you only able to bring back staff on a casual / part-time basis and want to keep them motivated and engaged? KEYS Job Centre can help keep your staff engaged, informed, and proactively ready to support your business to recover and thrive. Career Refresh is a FREE virtual training program that will prepare your staff to be resourceful, develop initiative and cross-train to fill in gaps.
WHEN: Monday, November 9 (Start of next 3-week virtual training session
COST: Free
For more information contact Program Coordinator Carol Roberts at 613-546-5559, ext. 259, or email. |
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Recover, Restart & Rebound: Understanding Your Cash Flow
For Businesses in the Town of Gananoque or Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands - this is the third of four working and learning sessions online through Zoom. Take a closer look at your business finances and complete a 2-year cashflow plan. Learn to calculate the effects of capacity restrictions, new revenue streams, grants and deferral programs, and what the extent of lost sales will mean to your recovery.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 10, 9-11 a.m.
COST: Free
Webinar 4 - Relevant Advertising and Promotion: How your customer is consuming media has changed as some traditional methods have disappeared. In this workshop, you will complete a 12-month plan that details the goals you want to achieve, what advertising methods you will use, and what are the associated costs with a monthly budget.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 9-11 a.m.
COST: Free
Sessions are hands-on with takeaways you can apply instantly to your operations. Be prepared to complete different task sheets and activities. For more information, email Laura Godard, Town of Gananoque, or call 613-382-2149, ext. 1131.
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Lunch & Learn Series: 4 Pillars of Marketing
This Zoom webinar is part of Lunch & Learn 2020 offered by Downtown Brockville. Steve Irving, Director of Business Development with Extension Marketing, will help you understand how you can grow your business and benefit from marketing - without having to do it all!
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 12 noon to 1 p.m.
COST: $10 (Free for DBIA members)
For more information email or call 613-345-3269 ext. 102. |
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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 November 17th edition should be received by Monday, November 9th.
- Submissions for the December 1st edition should be received by Monday, November 23rd.
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COVID-19 Business Updates
For business assistance call 613-342-3840 ext. 5365 or email.
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Ann Weir
Economic Development Manager
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Deanna Clark
Economic Development Officer
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Joanne Poll
Administration / Communications Support
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Shelbi McFarlane
Business Development Officer
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32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9
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