Wingham Business Retention and Expansion Report Presented

North Huron — The Wingham Business Retention and Expansion Report was presented last night to local business owners. In addition, the Wingham Business Alliance elected an executive and discussed the importance of establishing a formal structure and mandate.

Business Retention and Expansion (BR + E) is an economic development tool to identify actions to help existing businesses keep jobs and create new ones. It also outlines ways to improve communication and create partnerships between business, local government, and community organizations. An action plan has been created around three priorities highlighted by Wingham businesses:

Business improvement area – 91% in favour of forming a BIA;

Economic Development – 90% stated that more accommodation, a farmers’ market, small business support, attracting medical personnel, and attracting new businesses will help with business retention and expansion;

Tourism/Attracting a larger market – 83% support more tourism initiatives to bring more visitors to the area.

“The BR + E report will set the foundation for action-oriented strategies to eliminate economic barriers and develop solutions to enhance the local Wingham economy,” said North Huron’s Community Development Coordinator Connie Goodall. “Implementing the action plan will be a priority.”

“It is our goal to create the conditions for our existing businesses to thrive and to position our community for new investment, new businesses, and business expansion,” said North Huron CAO/Clerk Gary Long.

The Wingham Business Alliance was created in early 2011 to develop marketing and advertising initiatives around the Josephine Street reconstruction project and recently decided to establish a leadership committee and expand it’s scope and areas of interest. The new Wingham Business Alliance executive is:

Bruce Stainton, President (Stainton’s Hardware)

Trisha ???, Vice President (The Laundry Room)

Jason Schiestel, Treasurer (Petrolpolis)

Sandy Woodcock, Secretary (Wingham Advance Times)

“Having a unified and organized business association in Wingham will allow us to address future issues and challenges from a position of strength, and combine our resources to develop marketing and advertising initiatives,” said Wingham Business Alliance President Bruce Stainton and owner of Stainton’s Hardware.

The data for the BR + E report was collected from 52 out of a total of approximately 130 business owners in Wingham and the surrounding area. The project occurred under the leadership of the Township of North Huron in partnership with the Huron Business Development Corporation, Huron County and OMAFRA. The report and action plan are available on our website at www.northhuron.ca

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