IEDC’s annual Excellence Awards honour the economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that demonstrate consistent, exemplary performance in the profession
Sarnia, ON – The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) has been awarded a 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award recognizes SLEP’s Newcomer Connection Program in the Economic Equity and Inclusion category. SLEP will be honoured during the IEDC Annual Conference in Detroit, Michigan, September 14–17.
The Newcomer Connection Program ran from April 2023 to March 2024 and engaged with 469 job-seekers and 150 local businesses. The program also hosted community bus tours, equity, diversity, and inclusion trainings, and provided free immigration consultations.
"With its Newcomer Connection Program, the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership has set an example of leadership in advancing economic equity and inclusion,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “IEDC is proud to recognize their efforts and highlight the significant impact they have had in strengthening opportunities for newcomers and building stronger communities.”
Each year, IEDC honours economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that consistently demonstrate excellence in the field of economic development. The honorees lead transformational projects that revitalize communities and advance the practice of economic development.
While the Newcomer Connection Program has concluded, SLEP continues to build on its impact by supporting permanent residents through the ongoing Sarnia-Lambton Newcomer Hub and helping all job seekers across the region through Career Accelerator and the Explore Talent Portal. These initiatives remain central to SLEP’s commitment to fostering economic growth and workforce development.
“This recognition is a reflection of the dedicated work of Cari Meloche, the project team, and the community partners that delivered the Newcomer Connection Program,” said Matthew Slotwinski, CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “We are proud of the program’s results and are continuing that momentum by offering lasting supports to newcomers, local employers, and job seekers through an array of workforce development programs.
“As someone who worked closely with the program, it was inspiring to see newcomers connect with opportunities and fulfill their career goals here in Sarnia-Lambton,” said Cari Meloche, Economic Development Officer at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “The program’s success came from the partnerships with local employers and community organizations that opened doors and helped newcomers along their path to establishing meaningful, sustainable employment in Sarnia-Lambton.”
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With thousands of members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in a full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at https://www.iedconline.org/.
About the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we focus on promoting the distinct advantages Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and maintaining a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area.
For Media Inquiries:
Arianne Garcia
Marketing & Communications Manager
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
(519) 332 1820 ext 225
arianne@sarnialambton.on.ca
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