Durham Region Celebrates Economic Development Week

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region is marking Economic Development Week from May 6 to 11, 2019 to celebrate the contributions of economic development and explain the role of the profession in our local community.

Whether economic developers are working to support local business, developing strategies to grow industry clusters, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation or attracting investment, they all work towards a common goal — to build strong and thriving communities for both work and play.

“Durham Region is proud to join communities across the country to increase awareness of the work economic developers do to enhance local economic impact,” says Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism at the Region of Durham.

In 2018, Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism:

• Attracted four new investments to Durham Region, which created 86 new jobs.
• Hosted 17 incoming delegations from key markets like Germany, China and Brazil.
• Funded partner organizations who provided entrepreneurial and business support to 559 youth.
• Co-hosted and/or supported sporting events which welcomed 23,430 athletes.
• Distributed over 44,500 Durham Tourism publications.
• Partnered on 27 programs to grow the agricultural sector and support rural economic development.
• Supported grant applications for partner organizations to secure $197,100 in funding.
• Created an award-winning Guide to Filming in Durham which features a directory of over 600 businesses.
• Worked with partners to compile a list of 3,200 net hectares of employment lands across Durham Region that can be used to create jobs and attract investment.

Economic developers from across the municipal and regional levels in Durham Region work together as part of the Durham Region Economic Development Partnership to lay the foundation for future growth and prosperity.

To learn more about Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism programs and services visit investdurham.ca or watch a video about our 2018 accomplishments.

About Economic Development Week

National Economic Development Week was created by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 to recognize the unique role that economic developers have in creating vibrant communities with strong economies. More than 250 communities participated in the 2018 campaign across the U.S. and Canada. In past years, cities, counties and states recognized this special week celebrating with official proclamations, local community events, digital informational campaigns and through social media.

About Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism

The Economic Development and Tourism Division's priority is to lead, facilitate and support various investment attraction and expansion initiatives. Our goal is to create and retain jobs, increase non-residential assessment and promote the region as the best place to live, work and invest.

About the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

IEDC is the largest professional membership association for professional economic developers. IEDC supports the work of more than 5,000 economic developers to create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Their members are employed in a wide variety of roles within local, regional, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, universities and a variety of other institutions.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.