View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

Councillor Bonesteel commented that Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is an odd moniker and
wondered if there was any thought to change it. He felt that Lambton was not promoted
to its full advantage. There is potential for advertising change in the future.
Councillor Illman mentioned the South Western region website and wanted to know
about the absence of information related to this area. This is just getting rolling, but it is
all of our responsibility to get the information to the website.
There was a discussion about what would be needed to be able to sell Lambton Shores.
The discussion was deferred; however they are looking past this year, trying to extend
our tourism season with attractions such as bird watching, motorcycle tours, fall colour
tours, and wine/beer tasting. It is important to keep in mind that planning starts six
months or more prior to the event, so advance notice and planning is necessary.
Everyone was reminded to pick up the Grand bend and Area Tourism brochure.
4.3 Jerry Beernik - Sarnia Lambton Business Development Corporation
(S.L.B.D.C.)
OSEB Co-ordinator, Jerry Beernik explained several acronyms and the history that lead
to the development of S.L.B.D.C. to promote community development that is a nonprofit
corporation to help develop rural Ontario in an entrepreneurial standpoint.
There are three key areas.
1. Business development, which duplicates many services provided by the S.L.E.P.
S.L.B.D.C is the service delivery agent for O.S.E.B. initiatives to help people who have
been unemployed within the previous three years develop business plans and secure
funding for their business initiatives for up to 42 weeks.
2. Financial help for business allows for business loans up to $150,000 right now. Prime
plus three percent is leant based on the business plan, with favourable payment options
such as interest holidays. Collateral must be put up to secure the loan.
3. Community economic development assist people with no more than five employees.
Small initiatives
S.L.B.D.C. finds it difficult to people admit that they are operating a business so there is
a complete picture of who is doing what where. Glen Baillie has a directory of over
3,600 businesses, but the surveys are not being completed by all businesses.
Lambton Shores land use map shows there is no extra farm land, so the only option is if
farmers want to change the existing land use. There would need to be a ready market
available, and the infrastructure to be able to change. Mr. Beernik feels that there is not
likely much to do for agriculture, however with tourism more options are available.
This organisation works closely with S.L.E.P. It is not associated with B.D.C., but work
with the federal organization.
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