;Welcome to Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership's NewsletterView this email in your browser ; ;Taking Care of Business- February 2018News for the Sarnia-Lambton Business Community ; ;Following recent announcements, we are pleased to congratulate the following�companies who are investing in the Sarnia-Lambton business community:�Nova Chemicals- Recent�announcement of a new world-scale polyethylene plant in St. Clair Township.Revital Polymers-�Recent�announcement that ReVital Polymers has�purchased a Sarnia recycling facility on Lougar Avenue.Origin Materials- Recent�announcement that Origin Materials is moving a pilot plant it purchased from Tennessee-based Eastman Chemicals to the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park, next to Modeland Road.Tilray- Recent�announcement that Tilray will�Invest $30 Million in Enniskillen Greenhouse FacilityAdvanced Chemical Technologies (AChT)- Recent�announcement of a commercial-scale demonstration plant at Sarnia�s TransAlta Bluewater Energy Park to produce methanol using carbon dioxide emissions from Chemical Valley industries.Previous Announcements:�Alpenglow Rail,�Gateway Casinos and Entertainment,�Origin Materials,�S2G BioChem, BioAmber ; ;Strategic Planning for 2018 - 2022The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is in the process of implementing a new Strategic Plan for 2018 - 2022. The purpose of a�strategic plan is to establish long-term goals for a business or organization, that lays out the steps needed to make sure those goals are met. The plan takes into account the various resources required including money, people, equipment and knowledge.SLEP hired a consultant to work with the Board of Directors, staff and community stakeholders for the duration�of the strategic planning process, which was divided into 4 segments: background research, stakeholder consultation, strategy development and implementation and metrics.The process included a kick off event (June 2017), extensive primary and secondary research, community surveys (August 2017), stakeholder interviews and a full day workshop (October 2017). A website, www.slepstratplan.ca, was created to inform stakeholders with documents, collect input through community surveys and engage the community by sharing the progress. This website currently contains demographic and industrial profiles for each municipality as well as, SLEP previous Strategic plan (2015-2018).The culmination of activities that took place during the strategic planning process are being developed into a set of documents that will guide the organization for the next 5 years, including a specific and measurable action plan.�The website will soon be updated to include some of the new strategic plan documents as they are completed.SLEP CEO Stephen Thompson is excited to complete the process and get to work on the action items. "We have a solid plan and a lot of work to do. It is an exciting time to be a part of the Sarnia-Lambton community." said Thompson, who recently relocated to the area and began his role as SLEP CEO in the fall of 2017. ; ;Rural Economic Development (RED)�Project Announcement- Warwick Circular EconomyThe Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership Association is pleased to announce that the organization�will receive up to $20,000 through�Ontario's Rural Economic Development (RED) program to develop an economic development strategy for Warwick Township that is focused on waste, recycling, reuse and remanufacturing.The "Warwick Circular Economy Cluster Initiative" led by SLEP will adjust the economic development strategy for Warwick Township to focus on waste, recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing, culminating in a waste and recycling industry cluster that serves Sarnia-Lambton and the surrounding region, while serving as Ontario's key location for recycling and remanufacturing growth and development.The project ties directly to Ontario's vision for a circular economy, including the Waste-Free Ontario Act, and the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy. Warwick�s existing waste sector includes Waste Management�s Twin Creeks landfill, with diversification to a circular economy model possible through utilization of the Warwick Industrial Park and nearby industrial buildingsThe project will review, revise, and focus SLEP/Warwick strategic goals, objectives and tactics for the waste and recycling sectors and associated supply chains. The investment strategy involves re-assessing local strengths and weaknesses, identifying appropriate niche market sectors offering the best investment potential and a compelling value proposition for investors. The strategy will enable focused targeted marketing to potential investors most suitable to the Warwick Township and Sarnia-Lambton region. The investment strategy will evaluate the entire value chain of the circular economy- from R ;D/incubation to remanufacturing/reuse/recycling- against the strengths of the existing industries and current infrastructure as well as surrounding communities.The project consists of three key activities:1) Conducting a feasibility study assessing the practicality of the proposed project.2) Developing a strategy including goals, objectives and tactics for attracting investment.3) Completing an implementation plan identifying the critical steps within the project.The projects core concepts include:1) Maximizing proximity to WM landfill.2) Recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing of waste.3) Creating an R ;D recycling facility and incubator tied to recycling/remanufacturing.SLEP will utilize an industry consultant identified through an RFP process to complete the project activities.In addition to working with Warwick, SLEP will be collaborating with the Municipality of Lambton Shores, who�will receive up to $75,550 to create a brand and develop a contemporary marketing strategy that positions them as the premier destination to visit, live and work along the Blue Water Coast in Southwestern Ontario.Through the RED program, the Municipality of Brooke-Alvinston will also be�receiving�up to $9,000 to create a Strategic and Economic Development Plan to identify priorities and outcomes for economic development and job creation. ; ;Through a program called�Summer Company, students between 15-29�can get a $3000 dollar grant which includes: start-up money to kick-off a new summer business advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and runningLearning how to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to be your own boss while learning what it takes to manage a business. Sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management and networking are just a few of the highly useful skills you�ll develop.You may be eligible if you are: Proposing a new business A current student returning to school in the fall A resident of Ontario A Canadian citizen or permanent resident Committed to working an average of 35 hours per week Not operating a business or working elsewhere for over 12 hours per week during the program Not a past participant of Summer CompanyOther conditions apply.Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership�has been allocated six spots, therefore, the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn more and start your online application visit�www.ontario.ca/summercompany. If you have questions about the program and wish to speak to someone in the Sarnia-Lambton area contact the Program Administrator, Chantelle Core, at chantelle@sarnialambton.on.ca or (519) 332-1820. ; ;Sarnia-Lambton's Intelligent Community Taskforce ; ;Sarnia-Lambton continued its campaign to be recognized among the world's Top7 Intelligent Communities, making its submission to the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) the first week of January. ICF named Sarnia-Lambton to its Smart21 communities for 2018�(as well as in 2016 and 2017) and invited the community�to participate in the Top7 leg of its awards program.�A taskforce comprised of representatives from the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, County of Lambton, City of Sarnia, Bluewater Power, Bluewater Regional Networks, Brooke Telecom, Lambton College, and the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park applied to the ICF program on behalf of the community.The ICF evaluated each community on its access to broadband, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital equality, sustainability, and advocacy before making its announcement in New York City on February 8. Sarnia-Lambton did not place in the Top7 for 2018, however, momentum continues to build as awareness spreads about Sarnia-Lambton�s Smart21 status. The taskforce is currently planning activities for 2018-2019.The Sarnia-Lambton ICF taskforce hosted a well attended Humanizing Data event on November 17th as the first official event lead by the group. Humanizing Data was the ICF theme for 2018.To learn more about what makes Sarnia-Lambton a "smart community", visi
