<strong>2006</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Report</strong>201 - <strong>Ontario</strong> Power Generation commences work on the$985-million <strong>Niagara</strong> 3 rd Tunnel Project. StrabagConstruction has assembled the Big Becky boringmachine on site and construction is well underway.2 - First phase of the $21-million emergency serviceswing at the Greater <strong>Niagara</strong> General Hospital isunder construction. The new Jeff Morgan EmergencyDepartment opened in January 2007.3, 4 - Mayor Salci and Enbridge Gas representativeAl Curzon participate in the April <strong>2006</strong> Energy &Utility Cost Reduction Implementation StrategyWorkshop where members of the <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong>business community learned of ways to reduce energyusage in their business operations.
Government & Institutional <strong>Development</strong> Highlights<strong>Ontario</strong> Power Generation<strong>Ontario</strong> Power Generation, Sir Adam Beck<strong>Niagara</strong> 3 rd Tunnel Project construction startedin 2005 and will continue over the next threeyears with an expected completion date in 2009.The $985-million <strong>Niagara</strong> Tunnel Project, willgenerate an additional 1.6 billion kilowatt hoursof clean, reliable power — enough to meet theneeds of 160,000 homes annually. During thefour-year building period, the project will createapproximately 230 full-time construction jobs,most in skilled trades and will reach 350 jobs atthe project’s peak.www.opg.com/ops/niagaratunnel.aspGreater <strong>Niagara</strong> General HospitalEmergency ServicesThe Greater <strong>Niagara</strong> General Hospital (GNGH)in <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong> completed construction of thenew Jeff Morgan Emergency Department. The$21-million construction was completed at theend of <strong>2006</strong> and opened in January 2007. Thenew 18,000 sq. ft. emergency health centre willbe available to service approximately 70,000patients annually. A second phase of constructionwill include the conversion of the old EmergencyRoom into a new ambulatory care centrewhich is slated for completion in the summerof 2007.www.niagarahealth.on.caEnergy & Utility Cost ReductionImplementation Strategy WorkshopsEnergy and Utility Cost Reduction ImplementationStrategy Workshops for local businessestook place in April <strong>2006</strong>. The sessions weredirected towards commercial, tourism, developers,contractors, architects, and industrialbusinesses.The free workshops were sponsored by theCity of <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong>, Enbridge Gas Distribution,and <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong> Hydro. Participating speakersincluded representatives from <strong>Ontario</strong> Ministryof Agriculture & Food; Independent ElectricitySystem Operator; A lexa ndra Ca mpbel l,Al Curzon/Randy Mazzie, Enbridge GasDistribution; Garth White, Qui Tunc Inc.; ChrisStockwell, Energy Consultant, AinsworthEnergy Services; Ed Dujlovic, Director ofMunicipal Works, City of <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong>; PhillipJago, Government of <strong>Canada</strong>, Natural Resources<strong>Canada</strong>, Energy Efficiencies Office.Small <strong>Business</strong> Enterprise CentreThe City of <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Development</strong>Division’s Small <strong>Business</strong> Enterprise Centre(SBEC) participated in several successful initiativesduring <strong>2006</strong>.The annual High School <strong>Business</strong> PlanCompetition began in September of 2005 andran until June <strong>2006</strong>. This joint effort with theSt. Catharines BDEC included schools acrossthe <strong>Niagara</strong> region. This competition allowedevery local high school student the opportunityto explore entrepreneurship through writingtheir own business plan. The top five local finalistswere awarded scholarships.The <strong>2006</strong> competition winners were JonathanVellekoop and Jesse Sloetjes from Beamsville.These two entrepreneurs put their winning planin motion and opened their own small business,“JnJ’s Cut Perennials.” Jon and Jesse went onto place third in the <strong>Ontario</strong>, Central DivisionRegional Finals.During October’s Small <strong>Business</strong> Month,the <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong> SBEC, working in partnershipwith the St. Catharines SBEC, Small <strong>Business</strong>Club <strong>Niagara</strong>, and <strong>Business</strong> Link <strong>Niagara</strong>,hosted a well attended “speed networking”event on October 18, <strong>2006</strong>. The event includeda wine reception, buffet dinner and featuredkeynote speaker, R. Les Smith.The SBEC also coordinated and delivered aseries of information seminars designed tohelp local entrepreneurs start and build theirbusinesses. Seminars included evening and daytimesessions and covered such topics as “Howto Write a <strong>Business</strong> Plan, PST/GST, Starting aSmall <strong>Business</strong>, and Hiring Employees.” SBECalso partnered with the <strong>Canada</strong> Revenue Agency,<strong>Ontario</strong> Ministry of Finance, and the WorkplaceSafety & Insurance Board (WSIB) in the deliveryof information seminars. SBEC will continue todeliver information seminars in 2007.The City of <strong>Niagara</strong> <strong>Falls</strong>partnered with the aboveorganizations in <strong>2006</strong>to help local businessesfind ways to reduce theirenergy costs.21
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