It is “too early to tell” whether Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives will have an effect on Bradford West Gwillimbury’s local economic initiatives, said Michael Kemp, the town’s economic development marketing co-ordinator.
The Ontario premier-designate will be sworn in Friday.
“We’re already opening dialogue with our MPP-elect, who is Caroline Mulroney,” Kemp said at the Bradford Board of Trade annual general meeting Wednesday evening. “I think she’s going to be a great asset for our community.”
Kemp spoke to a small group of the board’s roughly 100 members, outlining the town’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP) program, which supplies grants up to $50,000 to local businesses and organizations in the downtown, industrial areas and seniors housing.
The town has an annual budget of $250,000 for the program, he said.
Kemp also pointed to a website run by the County of Simcoe, which helps business owners locate available properties for lease or sale throughout the region.
The town is also launching a new logo, website and branding this fall, where BWG stands for build, work and grow, he added.
A new event in the town expected sometime later this summer is RECON, a meeting of local real-estate and construction professionals — everyone from interior designers and landscapers, to plumbers and developers, said board president Tina Morrison.
The board spent $37,000 on events last year, according to its latest financial statements.
Its biggest annual events include the Bradford Home & Lifestyle Show and the Business Excellence Awards & Gala, which has a Harvest Ball theme for this year’s Oct. 26 event.
Board members are also welcome to join its Carrot Fest booth and promote their own businesses, she said.
As well, the board is currently designing new initiatives for larger-scale businesses in the community to meet their needs, added its CAO Tricia Barrett-Butler.
The annual general meeting also included presentations by Christina Strong of Independent Living Services, and Eaton Grant of Hope Inc.
Strong spoke about how it makes good business sense for stores and restaurants to become more accessible.
“Our world is often built thinking that everyone is able to do everything the same,” she said. “Ramps don’t help everybody. Neither does American Sign Language.”
One in seven Ontarians has a disability, according to Statistics Canada.
And by 2041, 30 per cent of the population will be seniors, which is the richest age group in Canada, she said.
“Businesses can’t ignore this consumer market,” she said.
Grant spoke about looking for business opportunities, even when faced with difficult situations.
“Opportunities don’t always look like opportunities. Life is going to throw you some curveballs,” he said, adding it is key to look for how to fill a need or a future need. “(One person) might see the sky is falling. You might see an opportunity,” he said.
If an opportunity does not come knocking, “build a door,” Grant added.
This means networking, and telling people that your business exists and what you sell, he said.
“The only things we have to do are die one day and pay taxes … but what are the risks of me not changing?” he said. “When you set out to help people, you uncover great opportunity.”
