Planning and Development

We seek to strengthen our local communities and regional economy through many projects and strategies coordinated in conjunction with our partners in economic development. We promote active collaboration between Eastern Ontario governments and local economic development agencies to ensure our communities’ growth strategies are realized. We have chosen four strategic directions to pursue: enhance the region’s economic development capability; provide small business and community support services, address key infrastructure requirements; and, strengthen tourism development and promotion. We initiate and provide direct investment into planning and economic development projects designed to stimulate economic growth in our service territory.

Recent projects include:

• Community Ventures Capital Fund
• Self-Employment Benefit (SEB) Program: In partnership with Grenville CFDC as program sponsor and the 1000 Islands CDC as program partner this HRSDC program delivers a business planning / business start up program designed to assist eligible clients in their quest to become small business owners
• 1000 Islands Entrepreneurship Centre: In conjunction with the City of Brockville and the Government of Ontario, we support the Centre which is designed to address the needs of small business throughout the area.
• Leeds and Grenville Business Directory: The 1000 Islands CDC has been responsible for the Leeds & Grenville Business Directory since 1991.
• Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Strategy
• 1000 Islands – St Lawrence Corridor Tourism Marketing Partnership
• Leeds and Grenville Resource JUMP Team Pilot Project on Regional Community Branding and Downtown Revitalization
• Leeds and Grenville Broadband Project: Bringing high speed broadband services to all of Leeds & Grenville.
• Community Access Program: through Industry Canada free Internet access is provided at a number of sites throughout our region
• BR&E : Business Retention and Expansion: The program is designed to determine business opportunities and expansion potential from companies currently existing in our communities and encourage the ‘growth from within’.
• Business Forums and Bridges to Better Business: In partnership with Chambers of Commerce these larger business networking events and information sessions assist in strengthening the business community
• Arthur Child Heritage Museum
• 1000 Islands Heritage Signage on 401 Highway
• Communities in Bloom: We provided assistance with funding of three separate ‘communities in bloom’ efforts across our region. Brockville, Athens and Mallorytown were recognized provincially.
• History Alive : Independent marketing effort designed to encourage the use of historically significant tourist attractions throughout Eastern Ontario
  

Contact our Executive Director to discuss your initiative for stimulating regional economic growth and to access assistance in sourcing out development programs available through the regional, provincial and federal economic development agencies and institutions..