Top feature photo: Karin Rabuka's mega roaster is environmentally friendly. Below: Freshly packaged coffee, the company logo depicting the iconic driveway by the roasting barn and the mobile unit.

Canada's Best Managed Companies Gold and Platinum Lists announced

Three Leeds Grenville businesses - Burnbrae Farms, Canarm Ltd. and Kriska Transportation Group Ltd. - are once again at the top Platinum Club level for Canada's Best Managed Companies. These family-owned companies have maintained their status for seven or more consecutive years to be recognized at the Platinum Club level.

A fourth family-owned Leeds Grenville company, Wills Transfer Limited, continues to be honoured in the Gold Standard category for 4-6 consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed Status. The lists by Deloitte Canada were recently announced and include new companies added this year and those that have maintained their status for two years.

The show has expertise in design and construction, with some financial resources for your episode.

RTO9 AGM and Call for Board of Directors

Join the RTO9 (Regional Tourism Organization 9) Annual General Meeting and help shape the future of Ontario's tourism industry. The meeting will provide an overview of RTO9's activities, initiatives and accomplishments over the past year, including financial statements, partnerships, future plans, marketing and promotional efforts.

WHEN: Friday, June 9, 9-10 a.m. online

RTO 9 is also seeking new members to join its Board of Directors. As a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in South Eastern Ontario, they rely on the expertise and insight of board members to help achieve their goals. If you are passionate about the tourism industry and want to make a positive impact on the region, you are encouraged to apply. Candidates interested in these positions are encouraged to fill out the 2023-2024 RTO 9 Application Form. Learn more and apply.

The deadline to apply is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17, 4 p.m. Return your application to applications@region9tourism.ca. For more information contact Meg Dabros via email.

Tourism SkillsNet program Offering Wage Subsidies

In collaboration with other tourism partners, Regional Tourism Organization 9 (RTO9) has launched the Tourism SkillsNet program which will be able to identify specific workforce labour gaps in South Eastern Ontario, as well as identify and train 100 potential employees in the region. This will be done via wage subsidies provided to employers who qualify for the program.

RTO9 will work to connect employees hired after April 1st, 2023, and prospective employees with free training provided virtually by project partner OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation). Additionally, RTO9 will work with employment service providers in South Eastern Ontario to match prospective employees with available job opportunities within South Eastern Ontario’s tourism sector.

For employees hired after April 1st, 2023, while the training is free, qualified employers will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy for up to 10 employees. This subsidy is capped at:

• Seasonal employer (new program job seeker/employee): $3,000
• Seasonal employer or year-round employer (returning Tourism SkillsNet North job seeker/employee): $2,500
• Year-round employer (new program participant/employee): $5,000

Registrations will be accepted from May 1, 2023, and the program will run until March 29, 2024, pending available funding. Registrations are being accepted from both employers and job seekers/employees with an emphasis on spreading out the funds over the RTO 9 region.

For more information, contact Project Manager Anne Awori via email.

Energy Cost Savings Grant Available to Local Food & Beverage Processors

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative is designed to support competitiveness, profitability and long-term sustainability of agri-food processors by providing funding to implement technologies and processes to increase energy efficiency in their operations.

This program will help agri-food processors lower their overall operational costs. Funding from this initiative will be used to support projects that prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in new technology, equipment, as well as building or facility modifications to help achieve this goal.

Ontario food and beverage processors are eligible to apply for funding for up to 20 per cent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $300,000 per project.

Applications will be accepted until June 5, 2023. 

For more information, visit the provincial website or contact Magloire Ngnitedem.

Employers: Get up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) provides opportunities for employers, individually or in groups, to invest in their workforce, with help from the government. This grant provides direct financial support to individual employers or employer consortia who wish to purchase training for their employees. It is available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees. To learn about your eligibility, the application process, and more, contact a representative in your area.

Employment + Education Centre, Brockville: Business Services Manager Teanne Larocque: Email or call 613-498-2111, ext. 365.

ontrac, Smiths Falls: Job Developer Joanne Watson: Email or call 613-283-6978.

KEYS, Gananoque & Elgin: Program Administrator Dana Betournay: Email or call 613-546-5559, ext. 218

CSE Consulting: South Grenville Program Facilitator Rod Palmer: Email or call 613-213-2898; North Grenville Program Facilitator Tracy McDonald: Email or call 613-498-4410.

Tourism Services Coordinator Position Open

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville's Economic Development Office is hiring a Tourism Services Coordinator - Summer Student /Graduate (Canada Summer Jobs Eligible).

This is a temporary full-time position starting June 5th. The position is 35 hours per week at $18 per hour.

Reporting directly to the Economic Development Manager and accountable to the Economic Development Administrator / Communications Support, the Tourism Services Coordinator will primarily support the implementation of the Inaugural Regional Tourism Destination Strategy and its activities. The individual will be part of the Economic Development Office support team and be part of other economic development initiatives.

Applications are due Friday, May 19, 2023, by 4 p.m.

For job qualifications and how to apply, visit the Leeds Grenville Careers webpage.

Prescott Pop-Ups Grand Opening May 19

From this upcoming Victoria Day weekend through to Labour Day, you can shop an assortment of rotating and seasonal vendors and food trucks in Downtown Prescott's RiverWalk District. Prescott Pop-ups opens with four vendors and two food trucks.

Pop-ups Include:

Once@426 Pop-up - Boutique and Market

River Vibes Picnics

Mystical Katarina - Clairvoyant and Clairaudient Tarot

Forwarder's Antiques

For the Love of Gelato

Judy's Wooden Spoon

WHEN: Grand Opening this Friday, May 19, 5-8 p.m.

Interested vendors are invited to come and check it out. Short-term vendors will be located in Prescott's Retail Cottage area with roofed accommodations and will receive marketing and promotional support. The site is highly visible both to those walking through RiverWalk Park and the Heritage River Trail as well as travellers on Highway 2.

Visit the Prescott Pop-ups Facebook page.

North Grenville Chamber hosting Annual Mayor's Address event

The North Grenville Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Municipality of North Grenville, is hosting the annual Mayor’s Address in-person event with Mayor Nancy Peckford.

WHEN: Thursday, May 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Interested participants are required to pre-register.

WHERE: North Grenville Municipal Centre, 285 County Road 44, Suite A, Kemptville.

This event will provide a spotlight on issues of key importance to the North Grenville community, such as job creation and growth, affordable housing, rural broadband, and rebuilding the local economy. As a new feature to the event, select businesses will be recognized for their milestone anniversaries.

For more information contact Chamber Executive Director Terri-Lyn McEvoy via email.

Webinar Series on Expanding your Business into the United States

The NETSUS (New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the U.S.) webinar is a practical, hands-on introduction to the basics of exporting to the United States. The final webinar is on the Do's and Don'ts of border crossing. Presentations from industry experts will provide Ontario manufacturers and service firms with up-to-date information on topics such as:

• U.S. immigration and business visa requirements.
• federal and state tax liability issues.
• corporate and legal considerations; and U.S. Customs clearance documentation requirements.

To register for one or both of the remaining webinars, click on the links below:

1. New Exporters of Technologies and Services to the US (NETSUS) - Wednesday, May 17, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2. Do's and Don'ts when Crossing the U.S. Border - Wednesday, May 24, 10-11 a.m.

COST: Free

Making Tech Better for Businesses

Hosted by Brockville & District Chamber of Commerce, hear from speaker Steady Notion Ltd. on how to

become better organized using technology. The workshop will help people overcome their fears and concerns with using technology and give them strategies to be more productive, potentially involving many of the activities that they do day-to-day. 

By attending this workshop, participants will:

• Discover a few ways to view technology through a different lens.
• Learn how to better leverage technology in their business.
• Achieve positive results to overcome adversity.
• Achieve stability, continuity, and consistency in their businesses.
• Realize increased competitive advantage and strengthened branding.



A Digital Mindset can also help maximize resources, foster growth as well as put businesses on the path to achieving that coveted ‘wow factor’.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Learn workshop.

WHERE: Comfort Inn, 7777 Kent Boulevard, Brockville

COST: Non-Member $30 / Members $20

Introduction to the Food & Beverage Industry

This is the first session of a 5-part series where you can attend any number you wish. It features speaker Nicole Haney and is hosted by the Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville). You’ve decided to start a food or beverage business, but what do you do first? The How to Start your Food & Beverage Business session explores the basics of getting your food business started. This session will discuss topics such as defining who your target customer is and how to position your product to attract your ideal customer, as well as outlining some of the first steps you need to take in getting your food or beverage business off the ground. It will help you understand the basics of the food industry and guide you on setting up your business for success. You will leave with a better understanding of how to successfully start your business in the food and beverage industry. The next session is June 8th with information appearing in the next edition.

WHEN: Thursday, June 1, 10-11 a.m.

COST: Free

Merchandising 101

The Retail Duo of Diane Spiridoulias & Karen Kritzer will demonstrate strategies in visual merchandising that will entice customers, activate the senses, and drive sales. The Retail Duo will take a deeper dive into multiple merchandising best practices to spark your creativity. This session, hosted by the Small Business Advisory Centre (north Leeds Grenville, Smiths Falls/Lanark), will leave you feeling inspired and ready to apply these merchandising tips and tricks to your own retail environments!

WHEN: Tuesday, June 6, 10-11 a.m.

COST: Free

Learn more or register

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 May 30th edition should be received by this Friday, May 19th.
• Submissions for the June 13th edition should be received by Monday, June 5th.

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