Economic Development News

Whitby-raised emerging filmmaker wins DRIFF’s $10,000 incubator prize

Whitby, ON: Durham Region International Film Festival (DRIFF) is proud to announce Mitchell Jaramillo and Siddharth Sharma, of Hold the Sauce Films, and their short film ‘Unfamily’ as the winning submission in its $10,000 incubator contest.

The Emerging Filmmaker Incubator will provide producer Jaramillo, Sharma—the film’s writer and director—and their team with $10,000 cash, mentoring and in-kind services to produce their film and have it screened at DRIFF from October 24 to 26, 2024.

“We’re...

United Computers: From Solo Venture to Thriving Business in Durham Region

Written by: Abigail Guevara, Senior Content Writer – Freelance

Louis Plummer is an Information Technology (IT) professional who transformed his passion for problem-solving into his own successful IT consulting business—United Computers—serving commercial businesses across Durham Region.

“Around 20 years ago, the company I was working for restructured and I took the opportunity to launch my own business,” says Louis, reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey. “I knew IT would always be in demand,...

A snapshot of Durham Region's economy in 2023

The Region of Durham's Economic Development and Tourism division is responsible for supporting the growth of our Regional economy through creating and retaining jobs. To do this, Invest Durham promotes the region as a great place to do business, provides business services to attract new investment, enables a vibrant tourism industry, and provides agricultural and rural economic development programming in the northern townships.

The 2023 Economic Development and Tourism Annual Report captures a...

Invest Durham announces the return of the 1855 MASTERCLASS series

Whitby, Ontario – Invest Durham, in collaboration with 1855 Accelerator and Ontario Tech University, is thrilled to announce the relaunch of the popular 1855 MASTERCLASS series. The educational initiative aims to empower local businesses, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts by providing access to thought-provoking insights, expert knowledge, and networking opportunities.

Initially launched in 2019, the 1855 MASTERCLASS series provides access to some of the most visionary and disruptive leaders in...

Bridging Past and Present: Brenton Alleyne Brings Experiencia to Pickering Village

Written by: Abigail Guevara, Senior Content Writer – Freelance

Within the bustling commercial area of Pickering Village in Ajax, established in the early 1800s, operates a mix of modern commercial enterprises in a historical setting full of character. One of those newly established businesses is called Experiencia, the brainchild of entrepreneur Brenton Alleyne.

“As an entrepreneur, I believe it’s important to create business ventures from a place of authenticity,” says Brenton.

This heart-held...