The 2021 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award for print-based marketing has been earned for the Sarnia-Lambton sector marketing initiative led by the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP). A Gold award is the highest recognition issued by the Washington, DC based International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest non-profit association for professional economic developers in the world.
With a focus on marketing priority economic sectors, including advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture, plastics and rubber manufacturing, hybrid chemistry, petrochemicals and refining, and information technology, a series of materials were produced including infographics, brochures and a detailed sector booklets. These materials allow SLEP to be strategic in promoting the Sarnia-Lambton area to companies, clients, and at strategic industry events with the goal of attracting capital investment and job creation to the Sarnia-Lambton area.
IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards, judged by industry leaders, recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential people. The promotional awards honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities, as well as recognize innovative and effective marketing materials used for attracting, retaining, and fostering business.
“Winners represent the best of economic development and exemplify the leadership that our profession strives for every day,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo Niagara, President and CEO Tom Kucharski. “We’re honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life.”
“Strategically designed and optimized for both print and online distribution, this sector-marketing initiative is already generating results,” says Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership CEO, Stephen Thompson. “Over the past year, the marketing initiative has supported the attraction of 16 companies that have short-listed the Sarnia-Lambton area including 4 that have identified the area as a preferred location and one that chose to invest here. We are seeing strengthened potential for business attraction, job creation, and significant investment within the Sarnia-Lambton area,” Thompson concluded.
With a wealth of information, these resources have become important tools for the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Development team by assisting in the development of leads, business cases and investment deals in the six key sectors. By using the materials and resources in outreach to companies, SLEP can secure investment in our community and create new jobs resulting in positive economic impacts for the Sarnia-Lambton area.
“The sector publications developed as part of this marketing initiative have become critical resources for our economic development office,” said Senior Economic Development Officer, Matthew Slotwinski. “They have assisted in the development of several investment prospects and have been critical to our efforts to educate businesses and government representatives of the opportunities the Sarnia-Lambton area presents. The publications resulting from this initiative have elevated our investment attraction effectiveness in the six priority sectors having already yielded positive economic impacts for the Sarnia-Lambton area, as they will continue to do for the foreseeable future.”
The award was announced Tuesday, October 5th during the 2021 IEDC Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The print brochures can be viewed at www.sarnialambton.on.ca/resources.
Media Contact
Stephen Thompson, CEO
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
519-332-1820
stephen@sarnialambton.on.ca
Posted in: Media Releases, SLEP News