News

Northern Ontario Exports Program Receives Award From the Economic Developers Council of Ontario

Piero Pucci, Supervisor, Economic Development, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission; Liam McGill, Manager, Investment and Business Development, Economic Development City of Greater Sudbury; Dan Hollingsworth, Director, Economic Development, City of Sault Ste Marie; Heather Lalonde, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Developers Council of Ontario; Scott Rennie, Business Development Officer, Economic Development City of Greater Sudbury; Elena Zabudskaya, Business Research Officer, Economic Development City of Greater Sudbury; Meredith Armstrong, Acting Director, Economic Development City of Greater Sudbury

Economic development corporations from across Northern Ontario have been honoured with a provincial award for initiatives that have helped position regional small and medium-sized enterprises take advantage of global opportunities and new markets for their innovative products and services.

Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation (ONEDC), a collaboration of the economic development corporations for the cities of North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins, accepted the Award of Excellence from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) at its annual conference gala on February 6.

“As a truly collaborative, pan-northern initiative, the Northern Ontario Exports Program has assisted more than 150 small and medium-sized companies grow their businesses through export development,” said Christy Marining, Chair, ONEDC. “The City of Greater Sudbury has done an exceptional job in leading this program for the benefit of all our northern colleagues.”

The Northern Ontario Exports Program had five objectives: to develop or improve export strategies, evaluate and address gaps in export sales and marketing processes, access funding support for export development activities, access business development databases and provide support for export related sales training.

“Our partnership with other local economic development agencies through ONEDC helps to strengthen our economy in Northern Ontario,” said Meredith Armstrong, Acting Director, Economic Development, City of Greater Sudbury. “To be recognized by our peers through EDCO is an honour and a testament to the quality of programming we are providing in Greater Sudbury to our companies and those throughout Northern Ontario.”

The EDCO Awards of Excellence is an annual program to stimulate the development of ideas and initiatives that may become economic development best practices of the future. Ninety-eight entries were submitted from communities and organizations across Ontario.

The Northern Ontario Exports Program was an eight year initiative supported by the Province of Ontario, FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund between 2011 and 2019. Resulting strategies will continue to generate economic benefits in Northern Ontario for years to follow.

-30-

Media Contact:

Scott Rennie, Business Development Officer
Economic Development, City of Greater Sudbury
[email protected]
705-674-4455 ext. 4403