ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES  Ontario’s communities, workers and families are facing significant challenges, especially those communities with automotive, manufacturing, and resource industries.  In the face of the current economic climate, there is increasing pressure on communities to do all that they can to remain places of opportunity, which are competitive on a global scale.

AMO’s Board of Directors has established an Economic Development Task Force with diverse membership to advise and support the Board on all matters related to economic development.  The Task Force includes representatives from business associations, economic development staff, the provincial and federal governments, and municipal elected officials and staff.

It is designed to encourage collaboration and information-sharing with other orders of government and stakeholders at a provincial level.  All of the organisations represented on the Task Force have well established efforts, programs, and resources which advance economic development in different ways.  The Task Force does not intend to duplicate those efforts, but serve as a discussion forum or ‘clearinghouse’ of ideas to enhance the local economic development efforts of communities across Ontario.  Below are some additional links and resources to assist municipalities:

Reports and Presentations
      

• Ring of Fire Mining Development Update. June 17, 2010, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Ministry of Northern Development Mines and Forests.   
• AMO’s Position on Energy Pricing and Policy.  June 17, 2010, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Scott Vokey, AMO Staff.     
• Ontario Economic Overview – May 2010 Update.  June 17, 2010, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Industry Canada.     
• Update on Ontario Government Initiatives.  June 17, 2010 Update to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 
• City of Hamilton – Pan Am Games Bid and Brownfield Development. November 13 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, City of Hamilton.
• EDCO Proposal - Investment Readiness Certification.  November 13 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Economic Developers Council of Ontario.
• FedDev Ontario Overview. November 13, 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
• City of North Bay Business Retention & Expansion - 2005 and Beyond. June 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, City of North Bay.
• Potential Initiatives to Assist Municipalities with Investment Readiness.  June 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
• Investment Ready Communities, Strategy Building Blocks Final Report. March 2008, Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
• Local Economies in Transition Initiative Final Report.  March 2008, Economic Developers Council of Ontario.
• Partnering to Compete: Strengthening Ontario’s Economic Competitiveness.   October 2008, Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review.   
• Harmonizing Sales Taxes – Part of a Long-Term Tax Reform Strategy. April 2009, Presentation to the AMO Economic Development Task Force, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. 
                       

Updates 

• Task Force Continues Partnership Building.  June 23, 2010, Update.      
• FedDev Ontario Applications Due December 1st. November 27,2009, Alert Nº: 09/082.
• Southern Ontario Municipalities Invited to Submit Funding Requests. October 6,2009, Alert Nº: 09/068. 
• Provincial Government Hosting Sessions on Broadband Funding. September 22, 2009.
• Municipal, Provincial, Federal, and Business Leaders Working Together.  June 30, 2009.
• Government of Canada launched $348.9 million Community Adjustment Fund for Ontario. May 14, 2009.
• AMO Establishes Task Force to Foster Local Economic Development Opportunities. May 5, 2009.

Government Programs and Resources

• Ministry of Culture Creative Communities Prosperity Fund - The application deadline is September 30, 2010.   
• Federal Government Programs - Listing provided by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario
• Provincial Government Programs - Listing provided by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario
• Ontario Business Program Guide -  Your resource for Ontario and federal government programs for small and medium-sized businesses.
       

Other Resources

• Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC). The Service Centre provides entrepreneurs with free access to accurate, timely and relevant information on federal and provincial business-related programs, services and regulations. Information is available for clients who want to start, sustain or grow a business.  Specialized research can also be provided to support well-informed business decisions.  The Centre is jointly managed by Industry Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Government Services.  It offers over 1,200 business information documents that cover a broad range of topics including business planning, financing, marketing, and human resource management. Information is available at, www.canadabusiness.ca/ontario or at 1-888-576-4444. 
• Economic Development Journal of Canada

• Collaborate: Leading Regional Innovation Clusters. Collaborate takes innovation-led regional economic development to a new level by addressing the question of what kind of leadership enables regions to harness their individual strategies and unique assets to accelerate economic growth, job creation and collective prosperity. (2010, Council on Competitiveness).