Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope said today that leadership and community partnerships are creating jobs. Mayor Hope was speaking to business people at the Mayor’s Annual Breakfast, hosted by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce today.
Hope says Council has invested in jobs, people, health and financial sustainability. He says that in 2013, direct business development through Economic Development Services, Employment and Social Services, and the Workforce Planning Board helped 11 new companies to establish themselves, and another six to expand, creating as many as 540 new jobs, and resulting in twice that many spinoff jobs. Hope projected that another 770 direct jobs are expected by 2015.
Mayor Hope noted that Chatham-Kent’s A-plus credit rating, designated in 2013 by the international rating agency Standard and Poor’s, reflects the municipality’s effective debt reduction strategy. Debt was reduced from $162 million in 2010 to $128 million now – a 21% decrease. The municipality is planning to decrease debt by another 17% over the next two years.
Hope says that Chatham-Kent’s financial stability is making it attractive to foreign investors, with agri-business being a priority. “We have a lot going for us,“says Hope. “We have an experienced workforce. We’re close to the American market and we offer good transportation corridors and reliable supplies of water, natural gas and electricity. Investors are definitely interested.”
Hope says countries such as India and China are looking for quality food products and agribusiness products such as fertilizer. In 2013, Chatham-Kent saw 14 delegations of investors looking for opportunities.
Hope praised community and business groups who now are joining in to promote Chatham-Kent to the world, for example, the “Grown in CK” agricultural labels developed by the CK Agri Development group, CK Food Policy Council, the CK Public Health Unit, and municipal Economic Development Services.
“I believe it has been a good year, and I believe that more success is around the corner if we work together to make that happen,” said Hope. “With the leadership of Council, the support Economic Development Services and the engagement of all our community partners, we will be the fastest growing sustainable community in southwestern Ontario.”
