Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-03-18, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March lit, 2015 Huron East to offer free rent for a year to new start-up Contest shows municipality is "open for business," organizer says Marco Vigliotti Huron Expositor Budding entrepreneurs look- ing to start a business in Huron East could win free rent for a year at a storefront in either Sea - forth or Brussels as part of a first in the county economic devel- opment promotion. The Municipality of Huron East's "Win This Space" contest, modelled after a similar promo- tion launched in Uxbridge in 2013, will award a future busi- ness owner free rent for an entire year at one of several participat- ing locations and hundreds of dollars worth of in-kind profes- sional services, as well as finan- cial and marketing assistance. "We hope to inspire someone to become an entrepreneur," Jan Hawley, Huron East's economic development officer, said in a blog post announcing the contest "Wm This Space will help give a new business owner a 'leg -up' (in) eliminating some of the big start- up costs incurred in the firstyear..' Hawley said the contest is fur- ther evidence that Huron East is "open for business," and is seri- ous about "recruiting new ven- tures." She encouraged those batting around an idea for a business to take their best shot and enter the competition. "Anyone who has considered putting their new business idea to the test, who would like to expand and relocate a current business, or who has been running a home- based operation should get in on this amazing opportunity to take the next step in achieving their goal, Hawley added. Contestants looking to enter must be at least 19 years old, Canadian citizens and residents of Ontario. Candidates chosen to participate will attend the kick off event at the Seaforth Golf Club in late April to leam more about the contest They will also be required to attend several free educational workshops sponsored by the Small Business Enterprise Centre focusing on how to start a busi- ness, developing a business plan, marketing and promotional strategies and the financial aspect of being an entrepreneur. Each workshop will also involve assignments, research, and coaching on how to create a successful business model. Once completed, the entrants will sub- mit their business plans to the Huron East Economic Develop- ment Department to be reviewed by the "Win This Space" judging panel, who will then select the top five candidates. The finalists will attend the finale event sometime in June where they'll have the chance to pitch their idea and business model for a chance to win the grand prize. Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan says the contest rep- resents an evolution of the inno- vative work already being done by the municipality to promote economic development. "The Brussels Business & Cul- tural Centre was our first step forward, offering affordable rental sites," he said in a prepared statement. "Win This Space is a similar concept, but with more advantages - less overhead, frontage right on a main street, exposure, and marketing help" The competition also appears to be winning the approval of several members of the region's business community. "What I like best about this programme is that it's thinking outside the box, and it's a more aggressive approach to recruit- ment of business," said Paul Nichol, economic development manager with the Huron Busi- ness Development Corporation. "Huron East is adopting a best practice in the form of an award- winning project to see how it will play out in our neighbourhood: "It's difficult to start a business from scratch - Wm This Space elim- inates a portion of the financial stress," added Brenda Campbell, a local realtor with Coldwell Banker. Those interested in learning more about the contest are being advised to contact Jan Hawley at 519-527-0160 or jhaw- ley@huroneast.com. OFFICE HOURS The Office Hours for The Seaforth Huron Expositor are as follows Mondays - 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm Thursdays - 9am - 5pm Fridays - 9am - 5pm Seaforth 1ifl�n Expositor 8 Main Street, Seaforth ON PH: 519-527-0240 www.seaforthhuronexpositor .com File Photo The Municipality's of Huron East administrative building in downtown Seaforth. Huron East set to assume short-term lease for Vanastra reservoir and pumping station Council votes to move AI municipality one step closer to taking on lease transfer process. Barry Mills, Huron East's public works coordinator, raised the issue at a meet- ing of the municipality's water and sewer committee on Feb. 10, saying the prov- Marco Vigliotti ince was seeking a short-term agree - Huron Expositor ment to allow for the completion of an expectedly lengthy transfer process. The Municipality of Huron East has According to the committee's meeting moved one step closer to assuming a minutes, Mills said the province had been short-term lease for the Vanastra reser- seeking to transfer ownership of the res- voir and pumping station, valued at ervoir and pumping station to the munic- roughly $1,500 a year. ipality prior to amalgamation in 2001. The municipality's council granted However, he said that representatives first and second reading at its March 3 of a management company for the meeting to a bylaw that enters Huron province told him the facility hasn't yet East into a five-year lease with the prov- been placed on the Ontario Infrastruc- ince for the facilities. ture and Lands Corporation Sales Plan Brad Knight, Huron East's chief - a necessary step prior to being trans - administrative officer, said council ferred to the municipality. stopped short of passing the bylaw at the "To facilitate the transfer the property meeting to allow the province to adjust must be added to their sales plan and certain language in the lease that he deemed surplus, which (the manage - claimed is restricting the municipality's ment company) indicated was a lengthy ability to secure insurance coverage. process," the minutes for the meeting "The province has certain clauses in read. "In the interim, because of envi- the lease about insurance coverage, but ronmental and liability concerns, the our insurer wouldn't issue a certificate province wished to enter into a short - for coverage based on some wording in term lease which would require, among the lease," he said in an email to the other things insurance clauses for the Expositor. "When I raised this issue indemnification of the province." with the management company (that The committee later passed a motion works on behalf of the province) it at the same meeting recommending sounded like other municipalities had council enters into a five-year lease raised the same type of issue with this agreement with the Ontario govern - wording - I am waiting for them to ment for the facility. come up with some amended wording Also at the meeting, the committee before we sign the lease." discussed the water main break that Knight said he assumes the $1,500 occurred in Seaforth on Jan. 9 and the price tag represents a "nominal" fee for preparation of budget estimates for the Ontario government to administer repainting and coating the interior and the lease as they investigate the title exterior of the Seaforth water tower.