Taking Care of Business – September 2016

RBN Energy publishes four-part series on Sarnia-Lambton

RBN Energy (Houston, Texas), is about making connections across energy markets. In this four-part series, author Housley Carr, discusses Sarnia’s evolution, explains the area’s pipeline infrastructure, challenges and opportunities, including NOVA’s plan to boost its Marcellus/Utica Ethane use in Sarnia.

Sarnia’s Evolution As Refining/Petchem Center Continues

The Pipelines Moving Crude, NGLs To Sarnia, And Moving Products Out

U.S. Ethane Squeezing Out Canadian Propane/Butane In Sarnia

NOVA’s Plan To Boost Its Marcellus/Utica Ethane Use In Sarnia

Top 21 Intelligent Communities- 2017 Application

Sarnia-Lambton was ranked among the Smart 21 Intelligent Communities in the world in 2016!

The accolade recognizes the capabilities of Sarnia-Lambton in keeping up with- and setting – global technological standards. Lambton County recognizes that making information and technology more accessible to the public is essential to the overall well-being and advancement of the community.

A committee has submitted an application for 2017 highlighting the following projects:

1. Fibre Expansion Projects (Bluewater Power, Brooke Telecom, Hay Communications and SWIFT initiative) These projects expand Fibre to both commercial and residential customers in both rural and urban areas of Lambton County.
2. Actua STEM camp for elementary students grades 4-6 (Aamjiwnaang, Walpole Island and Kettle and Stony Point First Nations). Over the last 10 years, these camps have inspired interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
3. Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative and Comet Biorefining: bringing together biotechnology sector and local agricultural industry to utilized excess corn stover and wheat straw to produce cellulosic sugars.
4. Lambton County Library Maker Space: providing access to new technologies, tools and resources to design and build innovative creations for fun or entrepreneurial pursuits and subsequent Made in Lambton group.
5. Lambton Shores Waste Treatment Plant Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure: an award honouring the project for using new design technologies, enabling Lambton Shores to protect the Lake Huron water resources with a fiscally responsible, sustainable sewage treatment plant.
6. City of Sarnia Accessibility Awards/ Breaking Barriers to Business (BB2B)/ charging stations for Mobility Devices (Scooters and Wheel Chairs) as creative solutions to accommodate an aging population and make our community accessible and inclusive to everyone.

For a press release on our 2016 award, visit us at www.sarnialambton.on.ca
For more information on the Intelligent Communities Forum, visit their website, https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/

Economic Partnership Tradeshow Schedule

PetroChem Canada, Edmonton, AB- Nov 1 – 2, 2016 – Speaking (Matthew Slotwinski)

PLMA Tradeshow, Chicago, IL- Nov 13 – 15, 2016 – Attending

Canadian FDI Forum, Toronto, ON- Oct 30, 2016 – Attending/Event Sponsor

Manufacturing Matters, London, ON- Oct 6, 2016 – Exhibiting

Advanced Manufacturing Canada: Conference and Exhibition, Toronto, ON- Nov 2 – 3, 2016 –  Exhibiting

Zoomer Show, Toronto, ON- Oct 29 – 30, 2016-  Exhibiting

Follow-up Campaigns

As a follow-up to tradeshow attendance, the Economic Partnership staff use direct marketing to proactively provide up-to date information about Sarnia-Lambton to industry executives and potential investment.

Current Target: Automotive Suppliers

Recent Campaigns:
Food Processors
Greenhouse Operations
Site Selectors

Nova Granted Relief From St. Clair Twp. Height Restrictions
September 26, 2016- Josh Boyse, Blackburn News-  St. Clair Township has removed another hurdle for Nova Chemicals’ proposed world scale polyethylene plant.

Lambton College announces $11.8-million renovation
September 23, 2016 – Paul Morden, The Observer – Lambton College has tapped into federal and provincial funding for a $11.8-million renovation project to upgrade and consolidate its energy technology and bio-industrial labs and teaching spaces.

Lambton County home to Ontario’s 2016 Outstanding Young Farmers
September 20, 2016- Paul Morden, The Sarnia Observer- Adrian and Jodi Roelands, owners of Roelands Plant Farms near Forest, have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2016.

Train station approved for more repair work
September 19, 2016 – The Sarnia Journal – More upgrades approved for the VIA train station in Sarnia is a sign of good things to come, says an organization pushing for improved passenger service.

Chamber committee formed to help local businesses with exporting
September 15, 2016 – Tyler Kula, The Observer – Businesses looking for an exporting market and not sure how to make the leap are about to get some help.

Refined Fool set to open up new production facility and special events taproom
September 13, 2016 – Barbara Simpson, The Observer – Sarnia’s burgeoning microbrewery has been given the green light to expand in the downtown core.

Construction of new Tepperman’s store to begin in March
September 12, 2016 – Observer Staff – The owner of the former Zeller’s plaza in Sarnia has released concept drawings for a proposed $10-million redevelopment of the London Road commercial property.

Lambton College recently received $2.3 million for applied research 
September 8, 2016 – Tyler Kula, The Observer – A fuel cell reliant on acid-loving bacteria could be a “game-changing technology” for green energy generators, says the man heading up applied research into the technology at Lambton College.

BioAmber making plans for second production site
August 30, 2016 – Paul Morden, The Observer – BioAmber says its new plant in Sarnia has achieved operational milestones established by funding agencies and lenders. The $141-million facility opened last year on Vidal Street where it began manufacturing bio-succinic acid, a building block chemical made from corn syrup.

 Success story: Sarnia-Lambton oil equipment manufacturers go global
August 26, 2016, Invest In Ontario- In Ontario’s chemical valley – the petrochemical and refinery complex located in Sarnia-Lambton – , small and mid-sized manufacturers spent decades developing best-in-class products and services for oil and petrochemical giants.