Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Belleville will receive $51,025 from the Province of Ontario for the Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR+E) that will focus on the manufacturing sector.
Funding will be used for in-person interviews with local manufacturing businesses to determine challenges and benefits of doing business in Belleville and identify opportunities to support growth and attract new business to the region.
“This BR+E project will allow the City of Belleville to reconnect with our manufacturers to identify their challenges and opportunities for growth in a post-COVID environment,” said Victoria Watts, business growth & retention specialist. “Through face-to-face interviews, the city will be provided with timely and important information that will inform the strategic and capital plans and give us an understanding of how we can support our manufacturers’ success.”
Data will be compiled in the coming months with a report and Action Plan to be presented to the manufacturing sector and the public next spring at a public event. For more information on the project, visit: Belleville.ca/BRE.
Some of the changes that have been made as a result of past BR+E projects include:
- Implementation of a successful family physician recruitment program.
- Development of the “Work in Quinte” labour attraction initiative.
- Transportation improvements including intersection changes, new linkages, road improvements and transit routes.
- Infrastructure improvements including new water mains, increased water pressure, sanitary sewer extensions, fibre optic service extensions.
- Downtown Community Improvement Plans (CIP)
- Business Park signage installations.
- Training programs with community partners geared to the needs of local business.