Our Projects
1. Entrepreneurship
Project Description & Rationale:The Timmins Business Enterprise Centre receives funding from the provincial government to provide support to start-up and existing small and medium enterprises. Entrepreneurs are provided with easy access to business consulting services and information covering management, marketing, registration, technology and financing. We promote entrepreneurship at all levels, and deliver programs geared to key areas, including seniors, youth, unemployed, women, aboriginal, etc. Our services are designed to create an entrepreneurial culture, with a goal of producing new employment in the region. All BDRD staff meet and work with clients, as well as provide seminars, presentations and instruction as needed by the various programs. The holistic approach reduces waiting times and increases client contacts. It also prevents gaps in the employee knowledge base
2. School to Entrepreneurship
Project Description & Rationale:The TEDC has requested funding through the Youth Entrepreurship Program to implement School to Entrepreneurship, a program that provides instruction to secondary school students to start their own business while earning credit. The TEDC developed a proposal and submitted in 2008.
3. Discover Abitibi Phase V
Project Description & Rationale:Phase V continues in 2009, with an expected completion in 2010. The project will apply state-of-the-art technology and methods of exploration to address the knowledge gaps in the Western Abitibi Greenstone belt. The project will also assist in sustaining the existing mining infrastructure through the identification of new mineral deposits.
One million has been secured from NOHFC and $500,000 from FedNor. The TEDC continues to work with FedNor to receive approval for the outstanding funding needed to complete the project.
4. Business Attraction and Retention
Project Description & Rationale:In the past, the TEDC has undertook a number of initiatives to attract new investment in key sectors including retail, cold weather testing, exploration and retail fuel. Through these aggressive marketing campaigns and attendance at key trade shows, we have created an awareness of the opportunities available in Timmins. As all these various types of companies move forward with their plans, the TEDC is providing start-to-end care. We continue to work closely with developers, realtors, exploration companies, clients, and consultants to ensure their needs are met.
5. Mining Incubator
Project Description & Rationale:We will work with industrial suppliers, and mining and exploration companies to create a mining incubator that will maintain, and potentially increase mining activity in the Timmins area. By fostering an ongoing cluster of various mining activity, this project aims to assist companies evolve and grow by developing a network to share resources, develop equipment and labour pools, and enhance the mining sector in the community.
It is important for the City of Timmins to maintain a presence within our targeted sectors to ensure that our community continues to be considered as a site for development. Time and effort will be dedicated to provide after care to companies already contacted, to identify new potential companies and to ensure that our marketing material is current and relevant. The goal is to be prepared for interest from these sectors that will result in an increase to our tax base and job creation.
We will also dedicate attention to our existing companies to ensure they have the tools needed to continue their operations. We will work to identity and remove barriers for these companies.
6. Community Data
Project Description & Rationale:
The national census provides information every 5 years about key indicators for our community and its economy. The lag for the release of the information is such that data from 2006 is still not fully available in January 2008. The TEDC cannot provide accurate community demographic information to clients, which creates a hurdle to our attraction efforts. We also do not have a fair understanding of the needs and wants of businesses and consumers. In addition to the needed demographic information, we would also conduct a leakage study to assist the TEDC with identifying their attraction targets.
7. Industrial Minerals
Project Description & Rationale:
The regional industrial minerals project was originally submitted as part of Discover Abitibi Phase V. The Kapuskasing Economic Development Team has agreed to lead the initiative and has submitted applications to NOHFC and FedNor to secure the required funding to undertake the project. TEDC will act as a resource to provide assistance as the project moves ahead. This will also allow the TEDC to align the project's objectives with those of Discover Abitibi.8. Emerging / Innovation
8. Emerging / Innovation
Project Description & Rationale:
The various levels of government are invested time, effort and funding into innovative and emerging opportunities. The TEDC will ensure that it keeps abreast of these developments and works with the government, organizations and companies as they explore opportunities in biomass, energy, and value added sectors.
9. Employment Opportunities Website
Project Description & Rationale:
www.jobsintimmins.com was developed in 2007 to help employers in the City of Timmins find employees to fill a variety of positions including retail, customer service, skilled trades, unskilled labour and professional positions. The project requires ongoing maintenance and support.
10. First Nation Liaison Coordinator
Project Description & Rationale:
The project is to access funding to hire a full time staff member to enhance the partnerships and relationships between the TEDC, aboriginal organizations and the First Nation communities surrounding Timmins and the James Bay Coast. The goal is to work with Mushkegowuk Tribal Council, Wabun Tribal Council and the Urban Aboriginal population to promote and develop initiatives that will lead to barrier removal, job creation and business development opportunities. The partners have chosen three themes from the Strategic Plan as a focus for this pilot project. The three themes include: 1) Increasing partnerships and development opportunities by forging a true partnership with First Nations (focus on fairness, respect, and mutual benefit), 2) Increasing Aboriginal cultural awareness in the community and 3) Improving education and training opportunities for Aboriginal persons (e.g. focus on skill-sets currently needed).
11. Immigrant Portal ProjectProject Description & Rationale:
Develop an immigration portal that will be linked to ontarioimmigration.ca. The strategy will provide immigrants a point of entry to access relevant information to Timmins as an attractive option to resettle.
12. Immigrant Portal MarketingProject Description & Rationale:
To build upon on the current marketing activities taking place with the development of the Timmins Immigration Portal. Develop traditional and/or non-traditional marketing strategies for our region to market the Portal.
13. Local Immigration Partnerships - Phase 1Project Description & Rationale:
The local immigration partnership project will provide a collaborative framework for and to facilitate the development and implementation of, sustainable local solutions for the successful immigration to Timmins and area.
14. Community DevelopmentProject Description & Rationale:
There is an identified need in the community for on going support for not for profit organizations with respect to governance and operations. The TEDC will continue to promote the services of the Community Economic Development to the community. The CED will assist in building capacity in the community for not for profit organizations and to enhance their skills and knowledge to leverage funding, to build board capacity and proposal writing.
15. Project IDEA (formerly Ontario Northeast University -ONE U)
Project Description & Rationale:
The goal of this project is to develop on-going post secondary educational opportunities specifically designed for the challenges of program delivery in North Eastern Ontario.
16. First Nations Casino/ Other opportunities
Project Description & Rationale:
The goal of this project is to research the opportunity of a First Nations casino partnership. The foundation of joint ventures of this nature is to develop projects such as a casino, which will stimulate and help sustain the economies in the city of Timmins and the First Nations communities. i.e. Casinos
