County of Essex makes three-year financial commitment to Invest Windsor-Essex

Essex County Civic Centre.

The County of Essex is making a three-year commitment to its economic development service delivery.

It was unanimously decided by county council during last Wednesday night’s meeting to spend over $1 million annually over the next three years to have Invest Windsor-Essex provide the service.

In the past, the county had funded the third-party agency year-by-year, but a report brought forth by county CAO Sandra Zwiers recommended a three-year financial commitment.

Annual cost for the next three years is $1,122,660 per year.

“In our current economic climate, I think it’s very important that we show a united front to the global market,” said Zwiers.

And while all county councillors agreed to the three years, Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers and Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong both voiced some concerns.

DeYong pointed out that as part of a survey conducted amongst the seven local municipalities, some indicated that they were not getting their money’s worth from Invest Windsor-Essex. Rogers questioned whether there was any duplication between the agency and what Tourism Windsor, Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) are doing to attract and retain business.

“I want to be cognizant of taxpayers’ dollars and us making a three-year investment, knowing putting two organizations together, where is the fat,” said Rogers, who sits on the tourism board of directors.

In the past year, county politicians have questioned the value of Invest Windsor-Essex and at one point considered reducing its funding.

Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti who previously had encouraged more of a financial commitment to the agency was pleased to see the county make a multi-year deal.

“It’s really hard to plan and lay a path for something you know is going to take two to three years,” he said.

Bachetti wanted to know if the City of Windsor was in agreeance with the three-year deal to which Zwiers said they were.

Gordon Orr is the CEO of both Invest Windsor-Essex and Tourism Windsor, Essex, Pelee Island and he presented a three-year strategic plan to county council indicating four priorities including revenue diversification and sustainability, relationship management and trust, value proposition and sector diversification and future sensing, which includes identifying future employment opportunities.

“Over the past few years our investment attraction team has secured nearly eight billion dollars across multiple industries,” said Orr.

Orr noted that about half of that is non-automotive including emerging opportunities in defence manufacturing.

County of Essex makes three-year financial commitment to Invest Windsor-Essex

By Fred Groves