Mon, 04/04/2016 – George Mallay – First Monday
One of the challenges of writing a regular column is asking yourself what to write about. This article will have no specific focus other than providing a spattering of current activities involving SLEP.
SLEP currently has a healthy pipeline of investment prospects in the chemical and biochemical sectors. The BioAmber story including the current public disclosure of an option at the Bluewater Energy Park for a potential second plant and the recent announcement for the Comet biorefinery continue to help in generating strong interest in the area. Next month SLEP and Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) will be present at the World Congress on Industrial Bioproducts. SLEP and BIC are currently booking meetings at the show with potential prospect firms that indicate an interest in Canada. SLEP will also be present at the Petrochemical Engineering and Construction Conference in New Orleans in June. SLEP continues to market its propane to propylene to polypropylene study to prospective firms. This past month SLEP hosted a group of 21 foreign direct investment professionals operating as contractors or employees of the Ontario Government responsible for bringing new investment to the Province. The delegation represented multiple sectors.
SLEP is working to take advantage of new opportunities in the cleantech sector. Last month, it jointly sponsored an Energy Symposium with Lambton College and Sarnia-Lambton Western Research Park and we are currently working with the College and the Park on the organization of a second water summit to be held on April 14th at the Lambton College Residence and Event Center. Information/registration can be found at http://sarnialambton.on.ca/2nd-sarnia-lambton-water-symposium/
Lambton College has developed strong research and development competencies in this area; and we see potential for more new start-ups and for activity from existing firms entering the sector. We have taken on the lead role for the Ontario Cleantech Alliance (OCTA), a group of Ontario municipalities working co-operatively with the provincial and federal governments to attract new foreign direct investment to Ontario. OCTA will be attending a number of international events as part of an overall lead generation program.
There are two brand new buildings that are vacant in the County that were built specifically to take advantage of the Ontario feed-in tariff system. These buildings are approximately 22,000 sq.ft., with one located in the St. Clair Industrial Park in Corunna and the second in the Watford Industrial Park in Watford. They offer an excellent opportunity to secure space for light industrial users at a reasonable cost. SLEP can provide detailed building and contact information.
SLEP continues to advance its efforts with the creative sector building on the studies completed last fall. A new group called MADELambton – (makers, artists, designers and entrepreneurs) has been formed. The first meeting of the group was held in Thedford on March 31st and was focused on exporting to the US. Sara Washbush, an exporting expert with Craft Ontario, was the keynote speaker. SLEP has also been working with local groups on developing an inventory of potential film sites following the success of the filming of the Twelve Monkey’s production completed here in the fall.
More information on SLEP activities will be shared in future articles.
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