In this issue...

From the CEO's Desk | Upcoming Chamber Events

Welcome New Members! | Updates from the Chamber Network

Welcome to the first week of October! As the municipal election campaigns enter the final three weeks, the Chamber’s Advocacy Committee is working on establishing priorities for the Chamber to work with both the County of Brant and City of Brantford Councils during the next term, to be confirmed by the Board of Directors later this fall. Our community is well positioned for additional strategic growth while maintaining our natural assets and looking for mutually beneficial opportunities for all members to benefit. Chamber leadership will be attending the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM and Policy Convention next week in Ottawa and will be supporting two nationally focused policy resolutions. The first, The Economics of Addictions, is in partnership with authors the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, and co-sponsors the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce. It calls for a national strategy on addictions and drug management, outlines the economics behind the recommendations, builds on our OCC resolution from the Spring, and demonstrates the challenges we are facing in Brantford are shared across the country. The second policy, Canadian Business Access to Naval and Coast Guard Procurement, pertains to greater fairness in domestic bidding for federal government shipbuilding, authored by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and impacting a large manufacturer in our community. We look forward to reporting on these, and other key federal issues, in future issues.

The Chamber welcomes your input and feedback and has available vacancies on our Board of Directors and Advocacy Committees for engaged business leaders looking to improve our community through effective and efficient governance and policy work, respectively. For more information, contact David Prang at david@brcc.ca

Chamber staff will be available, but working remotely, on Friday, October 7^th. Have a safe and restful Thanksgiving weekend.

Dave

Your Wealth Creators

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The economic recovery has brought new opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs.



To take advantage of these opportunities despite inflation, worker shortages and supply chain challenges, the top performing companies are eliminating waste and building efficiencies in their operations. They are also making their businesses more sustainable and inclusive.

See how it’s being done starting October 17, as we celebrate the passion, daring and impact of Canada's dreamers and doers during BDC Small Business Week under the theme: Dare to do things differently: Power up your growth.

Visit bdc.ca/sbwevents to:

• register early for an event
• find out how other entrepreneurs are building more efficient and sustainable companies
• discover what you can expect from the economy in the months to come

The local Skills2Advance Welding program is offering FREE training in basic welding techniques to companies that have employees eager to learn. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to upskill some of your existing staff - training can be completed in as little as 60 hours!

Our Skills2Advance Welding program is suited for:

• Workers you want to upskill or cross-train, adding welding to their skill set

• Workers interested in welding to advance their careers at your workplace

• Workers interested in welding but your company can’t free them up to take lengthy training

About Skills2Advance Welding:

• No dollar cost to you or your workers.

• Brought to you by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

• Uses CWB Welding Foundation curriculum and testing.

• Training delivered by experienced instructors at multiple locations: Six Nations Polytechnic (Brantford), Conestoga College (Brantford & Cambridge), Fanshawe College (Simcoe), and Mohawk College (Hamilton).

• Training held multiple times between now and February 2023.

• Classes for all workers (Mind Over Metal program) or classes for female workers to learn alongside other women (Women of Steel).

• Workers earn multiple certifications and can test to earn a CWB qualification (Fillet Weld Qualification per CSA W47.1).

• Workers receive a free welding toolkit

• Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Find out more by contacting skills2advance@workforceplanningboard.org or call 519-756-1116 ext. 223

Visit the Skills2Advance Welding website: https://www.skills2advance.com/employers-welding