BR+E Testimonials

Diane Smithson, B.Comm, AMCT, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Mississippi Mills

“One of the main issues identified through the BR+E process was that the Town was not communicating with the business community effectively.  A multi-pronged communications strategy was implemented and continues today.  I would recommend a BR+E program to any municipality that wishes to truly determine what the needs are of its business community.”

 

David C. Paul EcD., (F), Director, Economic Development, City of Brockville 

“Brockville has undertaken three formal BR&E exercises with excellent results associated with contributions towards enhancing both the efficiencies of the subject businesses and in some cases, assistance on both the business and employment retention. The public relations and community relationship building are other notable attributes on executing such programming to grow your community development.”

 

Ingrid Clark, Town & Country Ontario

"There's a sense of vitality working its way through Ontario, one community at a time.  Whether an area is rural or urban, the Business Retention and Expansion Program builds enthusiasm, involvement, cooperation and action, as businesses, local governments, agencies, organizations and people in communities across Ontario work together toward economic growth and prosperity."

 

Stephen Hyndman, CAO - Belleville

"BR+E has become a matter of how we do business.  It's part of our annual business plans.  We set out with specific objectives with regard to BR+E every single year."

 

Val Ryan, CEO - Nottawasaga Community Futures Dev't Corporation

"Business Retention and Expansion gives you a tool that enables the community to demonstrate their support from their local businesses in ways that are very concrete and demonstratively supportive."

 

George Young, Chair - Economic Dev't & Advisory Committee - Huntsville

"It's a program that's ongoing. I think that it starts with the initial questionnaires because you get the pulse of your town, the temperature if you like. We get to find out what the issues are, and it's not all red flag issues. You find out what the green flag issues are too. So you know what your strengths are; you know what your weaknesses are and you go from there."

 

Dave Barrett - Saugeen Community Futures Dev't Corporation

"One of the biggest things that I've found with a lot of these businesses: they didn't know they didn't know. So they didn't even know the question to ask. But through the survey, we were able to ask them: What resources would help you?"

 

Simone Chisholm - Sudbury Chamber of Commerce

"The first thing is identification and I think that once you can identify what people's needs are, what their hopes and dreams are, and then from there identify which organizations or people within the community can help make those things happen if we want to see the city grow."

 

John Finley, Economic Dev't Officer - Muskoka

"To get the champions is really important. When you go into interview the senior officer of the company you have to have a team of professionals. And that's very, very important that you select the proper team."