November 10, 2020 Page 1 of 21 A 1 - CW

MIDDLESEX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM

Department Update Middlesex County Council Tuesday, November 10, 2020 November 10, 2020 Page 2 of 21 A 1 - CW

Economic Development Leadership

Chair/Co - Chair - London Chamber of Commerce Agri - Business Committee, Middlesex Workforce Development Partnership, Middlesex Economic Resiliency Task Force, Middlesex Economic Development Strategic Planning Committee, Food Cluster

Member – SWOTC; SCOR; Middlesex London Food Policy Council; Middlesex Community Safety & Well Being Committee; TIAO; EMOLTB Workforce Projects November 10, 2020 Page 3 of 21 A 1 - CW

CIP Development

Strathroy- Middlesex Southwest North Lucan Caradoc Centre Middlesex Middlesex Biddulph Expanding plan both Expanding plan both New CIP being New CIP being New CIP being geographically as geographically as developed. developed. developed. well as incentive well as incentive offerings. offerings. November 10, 2020 Page 4 of 21 A 1 - CW

Grants Secured - 2020

FedDev Ontario, Middlesex London OMAFRA RED Health Unit, Middlesex London

Funding to double all Workforce Food Policy Council and Middlesex Development initiatives in 2020 Federation of Agriculture

Funding for new Middlesex County Culinary Guide

Global Affairs FedDev Ontario Funding to complete Foreign Direct Funding through Tourism Industry Investment Strategy as part of the Association of Ontario for Tourism Relief Economic Development Strategy refresh in and Recovery 2020 November 10, 2020 Page 5 of 21 A 1 - CW

Local Projects

Site Selection Working on a number of new active industrial site selection files with lower tier municipalities

Southwest Middlesex Middlesex Centre Working on advancement of Economic Development Working on BR&E strategy for industrial development, Strategic Plan, hiring of Economic Development & supported application to CanExport for industrial land Communications Officer, CIP, Industrial Park marketing analysis along Highway 402 (aerial video, etc.) November 10, 2020 Page 6 of 21 A 1 - CW Middlesex Economic Resiliency Task Force

• Introduced # MiddlesexStrong campaign, carried out promotional initiatives like # VisitList, # FallinLove & Dine Local Map • Coordinated production of video message of support from our local Mayors to businesses • Conducted 2 Business • Established Action Plan of Impact Surveys to inform committee's goals & tactics all levels of government • Continued communication • Participated in regular regarding new supports and calls/initiatives and online resources via social media networking opportunities • Created Business Resources • Provided safety recovery and Supports Page on Invest kits to employees at local in Middlesex website businesses November 10, 2020 Page 7 of 21 A 1 - CW

Middlesex Workforce Development Partnership

• Partnering with TVDSB & • Maintain, update & promote LDCSB for coordination and workinmiddlesex.ca website production of virtual job board employment profiles for • Attend and promote job fairs students across the region in the area such as London & • Small Business Week contest Area Job Fair and Ontario • Marketing campaigns for Feed Your Future Career Fair Middlesex the Place we Call Home • Carried out successful Young Entrepreneurs Business Plan Contest • Workforce commercial produced and featured on CTV • Middlesex Workforce facemasks to be produced for local employees and employers November 10, 2020 Page 8 of 21 A 1 - CW

Partnership Programs Proposed (Grant Applications Submitted)

Foreign Direct Investment Joint project between Middlesex County Strategy Implementation and Ontario Food C luster (Global Affairs Canada)

“From our hands to Marketing campaign in partnership with your table” Middlesex London Food Policy, Middlesex and Lambton Federations of Agriculture; - Lambton Economic Partnership and Tourism S arnia- Lambton Tourism (O M AFRA)

Tourism Recovery Fund $2.5 million + partnership with London Tourism, Tourism Sarnia- Lambton, and Tourism W indsor Essex Pelee Island (FedDev Ontario) November 10, 2020 Page 9 of 21 A 1 - CW

Economic Development Strategic Plan

• Committee formed out of Economic Resiliency Task Force • Quotations secured and vetted by Committee • MDB Insight engaged • Stakeholder Roundtable; Advanced Interviews Completed • Business Impact Survey with 112 Respondents completed September 2020 • FDI and Tourism Strategies Included in Plan • Supports priorities identified in the Middlesex County Strategic Plan Adopted by Council • Will be presented to Council December 2020 November 10, 2020 Page 10 of 21 A 1 - CW Ag Strategy

Changing Faces of On the Farm with Agriculture Forman

Event in partnership with the Local agriculture spotlight segment London Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Bell Media November 10, 2020 Page 11 of 21 A 1 - CW Profile Videos Filming of 2020 - 2021 profile videos & photography has concluded and editing is underway. Southwest Middlesex - Halide Emulsion Labs Inc. North Middlesex - Parkhill Meats Middlesex Centre - Annie’s Chocolates - SAMY’s Alpacas - Mustang Drive - in Theatre - OJB Industries Newbury - Patton Excavating & Grading Strathroy - Caradoc - Doug and Marion’s Bike Sales & Repairs Newsletter Continued with quarterly newsletter release following impactful introduction of pandemic in early spring. We have interviewed a tourism business and manufacturing company on their operation adjustments during this time. Updates on resources and workshops are highlighted here as well. November 10, 2020 Page 12 of 21 A 1 - CW Tourism Regional Relief Partnerships

Middlesex Centre Partnered with Komoka Community Market to extend season through Thanksgiving Strathroy - Caradoc Partnered on expansion of restaurant patio service in Downtown core Lucan Biddulph Partnering on outdoor patio heater rental and shop local social media campaign I Love Thorndale Partnering on enhancement of "Welcome Package" for new residents. To include information about their new community and what it has to offer, promotional items and samples from local businesses Strathroy BIA Partnering to bring Leslie Fournier & Gregg McLachlan of "Your Town Rising" to Strathroy to enhance the storefronts of two downtown businesses this winter season and create video content for promotion November 10, 2020 Page 13 of 21 A 1 - CW

Dine Local Map

We collaborated with the Planning & GIS department to develop a “Dine Local Map” that pinned all restaurant/eatery locations in each local municipality that was then hosted on our Visit Middlesex website.

The map was promoted and shared on social media encouraging residents and visitors to keep their dining choices local.

Users could hover over a location pin and see the restaurants logo, address, website and phone number. November 10, 2020 Page 14 of 21 A 1 - CW

Social Media With the help of the Tourism Regional Relief Funding, we were Contests able to further assist our local tourism businesses through our social media contests like # VisitList , # FallinLove , # DineinMIddlesex and # GiftofLocal . These contests were created to encourage local shopping and dining. November 10, 2020 Page 15 of 21 A 1 - CW

Visit Middlesex Tourism Commercial

Middl esex County’s Economic Development Department has begun production of an updated Visit Middlesex Tourism Commercial. Once finalized, an appropriate release date will be determined based on further development of provincial restrictions. November 10, 2020 Page 16 of 21 A 1 - CW

# MiddlesexStrong Business Safety Kits

Middlesex County’s Economic Development Department realizes that COVID - 19 has been nothing short of a trying time. To pass along our sincere thanks and celebrate the perseverance and resilience shown by our local business’ we have created a safety kit to provide to them. This kit includes resource information, facemasks, spray and pump hand sanitizer and a # MiddlesexStrong window decal. November 10, 2020 Page 17 of 21 A 1 - CW

Advertising

Visit Middlesex has been active with campaigns showcased in Villager Publications, Media City Billboards, Cineplex/ OnRoute , Daytripping Magazine, Horizon Media, Postmedia Solutions/National Post. November 10, 2020 Page 18 of 21 A 1 - CW Culinary Tourism Alliance (Great Taste of Ontario)

Businesses in Passport Program: Visit Middlesex has partnered with the Culinary Tourism Alliance for The Great Taste of Ontario Road Trip as part of the COVID- 19 Recovery Program. We • Texas Long Horn Ranch have submitted these 15 businesses for their passport • S.A.M.Y’s Alpacas program and are working on getting Feast ON • Fanshawe Pioneer Village Certified and getting the # SafeTravelsstamp. • Ska - Nah- Doht Village • Kusterman’s Berry Farm • Apple Land Station • Kusterman’s Berry Farms • Arrowwood Farm • Mj’s Road House • Bj’s C ountry Market • Rusty W rench Brewing C o. • Caddyshacks by the Tracks • Arva Flour Mill / Mill House Bakery • C lock Tower Inn • Heeman’s November 10, 2020 Page 19 of 21 A 1 - CW

We’ve partnered with Young & Free Press to showcase a few of the unique spots within the County and encourage local Young & tourism. They’ve now added a Middlesex teen to their Free Press team, which will allow for authentic content creation. They’re also helping us promote our new Culinary Guide in their content. November 10, 2020 Page 20 of 21 A 1 - CW

Photography

We partnered with Ontario’s Southwest Tourism C orporation to have a photographer go to a few different spots around our C ounty for spring and fall photography. We will send the images to each perspective business and use them for advertising and promotional purposes. November 10, 2020 Page 21 of 21 A 1 - CW

Thank you for your support