The Yves Landry Foundation has been providing assistance to Ontario businesses for a number of years through the AIME Program (Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence). This program provides grants to foster training that will lead to advancements in innovation within the manufacturing sector.
Over the past few years, the program has not been available to Bracebridge businesses as the funds available were limited to Southern Ontario businesses because they were supported through FedDev Ontario that was created by the Federal Government in 2009/10 to assist Southern Ontario.
Recently (January 23, 2012) the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister for FedNor announced $2 million in funding to the Yves Landry Foundation making this program available to businesses in the Bracebridge area. Here is link to the Media Release.
Specific funding will be provided for two major objectives:
Objective 1 – Training that will support the adaptation of new technology, new processes or procedures or a change within the company to support innovation. This objective must clearly be linked to innovations leading to global competitiveness including expanding into new domestic or international markets.
Objective 2 – Training that will support and develop Highly Skilled Personnel in any area that leads to innovation. This can include the development of new engineering skills, training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools necessary to support innovation; retraining to embrace new technologies, new manufacturing methods, or any other business area that will make a Northern Ontario manufacturing company more competitive in the global marketplace. Ultimately it should lead to a situation where the applicant develops or enhances a culture that supports constant training and development to support ongoing innovation in all areas of the business cultivating opportunities for growth through innovation and education.
This involves an application process.
For more information on the program, check on the Northern AIME section of the Yves Landry Website
New Billoard - 2011
Bracebridge is a centre for Post-Secondary Education
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Destination Development & Rebranding... and the survey says
The Destination Development/Brand Redevelopment Process on-line survey closed at the end of January 2012. Here is an overview of the respondents to our survey:
- 61% reside within the urban area of Bracebridge; 22.6% reside within the rural area; the remainder within Muskoka or outside of the region
- 95.3% are permanent residents
- 59.6% are female; 40.4% male
- 26.1% of the respondents were over the age of 60; 36.2% of the respondents were between 46 and 60; 26.3% between the age of 31 and 45; and 11.4% unde the age of 30
- 27.5% owned their own business; 20% retired; 22.9% worked for a public company; 18% work for a private company
A Brand Development Team has been created to review the results of over 521 surveys that were completed by the local community.
The project is moving along within the timelines outlined in a memo to Council
The Brand Development Team is working through their "homework" and will begin meeting shortly to look at the results and work through the exercises of narrowing down the brand ideas provided through the surveys with Destination Development International's guidance.
The Brand Development Team will narrow the focus and working with Destination Development International to determine what is feasible. "Brand Camp" which is the final step of the branding process will take place during the last week of February. A public presentation will take place on the morning on March 2nd.
Keep checking the Town's website for additional updates.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Feb 2 - Bridges to Better Business!
Turning Ideas into Opportunities!
Bridges to Better Business is an interactive networking seminar and workshop for entrepreneurs. Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge of current business trends and share best practices with other business owners.
Location: Waterloo Summit Centre , 87 Forbes Hill Drive, Huntsville
Date: February 2, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Featuring:
Larry Wilson, Author of "The Small Business Planner" and
Dr. Glenn Brophey, Nipissing University's Innovation Management Specialist.
Also a Business Panel of Peers with Melinda Zytaruk of the Fourth Pig Worker Co-op; Tyler Morrison from The Cottage Country Comedy Festival; Patrick Streppel, the In Home Personal Trainer; and Jonathan and Celine McKay, owners of Sustain Eco-Living Store and Pure Green Magazine. View the flyer for more information.
To register: Email info@muskokasmallbusiness.ca, call (705)646-9021 or download your registration form.
Bridges to Better Business is an interactive networking seminar and workshop for entrepreneurs. Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge of current business trends and share best practices with other business owners.
Location: Waterloo Summit Centre , 87 Forbes Hill Drive, Huntsville
Date: February 2, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Featuring:
Larry Wilson, Author of "The Small Business Planner" and
Dr. Glenn Brophey, Nipissing University's Innovation Management Specialist.
Also a Business Panel of Peers with Melinda Zytaruk of the Fourth Pig Worker Co-op; Tyler Morrison from The Cottage Country Comedy Festival; Patrick Streppel, the In Home Personal Trainer; and Jonathan and Celine McKay, owners of Sustain Eco-Living Store and Pure Green Magazine. View the flyer for more information.
To register: Email info@muskokasmallbusiness.ca, call (705)646-9021 or download your registration form.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Recent Advertising to Promote Niche Manufacturing
The Town recently placed an advertisement in the the Canadian Manufacturer's and Exporter's Association Publication called 20/20. This publication is distributed all over Canada.
The goal is to promote our community for niche manufacturing/manufacturers - who are likely to be smaller businesses with products that are for a defined market which could be in Ontario or across the world.
With help from local businesses were were able to promote some of our local industries in this ad - but more importantly promote the community as a place to establish these types of businesses. We've also built an area of the Town's website in an effort to showcase more of these Bracebridge businesses.
The goal is to promote our community for niche manufacturing/manufacturers - who are likely to be smaller businesses with products that are for a defined market which could be in Ontario or across the world.
With help from local businesses were were able to promote some of our local industries in this ad - but more importantly promote the community as a place to establish these types of businesses. We've also built an area of the Town's website in an effort to showcase more of these Bracebridge businesses.
In 2011, the Town of Bracebridge hired Roger Brooks of Destination Development International (DDI) to conduct a community assessment of Bracebridge through the eyes of a first time visitor.
Mr. Brooks' credentials are impressive. He has worked with 1000+ communities throughout North America and into Europe. He brings with him expertise as an objective facilitator who is not biased towards specific businesses or themes. DDI is extremely knowledgeable about the tourism industry and what is currently working in the marketplace.
The results of his initial visit are included in the Community Assessment and Findings Study. One of the primary outcomes from this report was the need for BRACEBRIDGE to create a focus for tourism development.
Like businesses, the majority of successful towns and cities have adopted a brand. A brand is much more than a logo or slogan – a brand is a perception. It is what people think of when “Bracebridge” is named; it is the expectation of an EXPERIENCE.
What would you like our town to be known for in ten years? What is your image for the future of Bracebridge? Identifying the town’s strong points is one of the goals of a questionnaire – to enhance the community for residents while increasing tourism and benefiting the local economy.
Tell us what you want Bracebridge to be known for now, and for the foreseeable future. Complete the following survey prior to January 31, 2012.
For more information on the background of this project, check out the Town's website
Mr. Brooks' credentials are impressive. He has worked with 1000+ communities throughout North America and into Europe. He brings with him expertise as an objective facilitator who is not biased towards specific businesses or themes. DDI is extremely knowledgeable about the tourism industry and what is currently working in the marketplace.
The results of his initial visit are included in the Community Assessment and Findings Study. One of the primary outcomes from this report was the need for BRACEBRIDGE to create a focus for tourism development.
Like businesses, the majority of successful towns and cities have adopted a brand. A brand is much more than a logo or slogan – a brand is a perception. It is what people think of when “Bracebridge” is named; it is the expectation of an EXPERIENCE.
What would you like our town to be known for in ten years? What is your image for the future of Bracebridge? Identifying the town’s strong points is one of the goals of a questionnaire – to enhance the community for residents while increasing tourism and benefiting the local economy.
Tell us what you want Bracebridge to be known for now, and for the foreseeable future. Complete the following survey prior to January 31, 2012.
For more information on the background of this project, check out the Town's website
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