EconomicDevelopment 2011In Review.

For the Economic Development Department, 2011 was an action-based year fi lled

with many business activities and initiatives that helped support the 10-year

Economic Development Strategy and Vaughan’s economic growth and prosperity.

“The yardstick on our economic development has been moved, and we are seeing

our policies and projects being embraced by our business associations and the

regional and provincial governments. Their coming on board gives us confi dence

that we are moving in the right direction,” said City Manager Clayton Harris.

As we come to the end of 2011, we refl ect on the past year’s activities, progress

and accomplishments, and we look forward to continuing to build Vaughan as

the economic gateway for the Greater Toronto Area.

NEW BUSINESS INVESTMENTS AND EXPANSIONS

The Economic Development Department worked on projects totaling two million

sq.ft., accounting for 800 jobs attracted, created or retained:

Improve – retail condominium project: 310,000 sq.ft. of occupied space

Calisolar/6N Silicon – solar grade silicon manufacturer: 20,000 sq.ft. expansion

Transcontinental Printing – printer: 150,000 sq.ft. occupied space and 95 new jobs

Toromont – investment in new site expansion

Royal Pipe / Royal Group Technologies – expansion in operational capacity

Sungrow Canada – solar inverter manufacturer: 25 new jobs

Shimifrez – precision metal manufacturer: fi ve new jobs

Korea Food Trading – food retailer: 30,000 sq.ft. occupied space

CLEAN TECH SECTOR EXPANDS IN VAUGHAN

Solgate secures $450,000 in government funds for a Work-Sharing Program

Sungrow Power Products of China expands in Canada, with an investment

in Sungrow Canada: 25,000 sq.ft of occupied space and 25 new jobs

DEVELOPING VAUGHAN’S ECONOMIC GATEWAY

Building Vaughan’s economic gateway can be accomplished in a number of ways,

from promoting investment in foreign markets and marketing our development

zones; to local road and infrastructure improvements for the Vaughan Enterprise

Zone (VEZ).

NAIOP Business Conference and Bus Tour – The City’s key development

areas were showcased to over 120 downtown industrial/commercial realtors,

developers and asset and property managers .

Business Mission to China – Over the past two years, the City worked with Yiwu

to fi nd opportunities to introduce Canadian products. In April the City undertook

a business mission to Yiwu to open the Yiwu Cultural Products Trade Fair.

City welcomed 20 international delegations from Italy, China, Japan and Thailand

Highway 427 Extension – Along with the Transportation Engineering Department,

presentations and meetings were undertaken with Provincial ministries

and local businesses to communicate the importance of proceeding with

the Highway 427 extension as well as improvements to Canadian Pacifi c

Rail crossings. These infrastructure initiatives are critical to the development

of the VEZ.

SUPPORTING THE CREATIVE/CULTURAL SECTOR

The City takes a multi-pronged approach to developing its

creative/cultural sector with arts-focused seminars and

workshops, mainstreet revitalization strategies, and business

investments attraction in accommodations and attractions,

to name a few.

Completed in June 2011, the Kleinburg Economic Development

Strategy’s mandate is to address the challenges of revitalizing

the Kleinburg Commercial Core. Since the adoption of the

Strategy, the following activities have been undertaken:

Staff now sit on the Kleinburg Business Improvement

Association (KBIA)as a support resource

With the Planning Department, application procedures

for outdoor patio permits have been streamlined,

enhancing operational effi ciencies for Kleinburg’s eateries

Starbucks opened a new store, creating 15 new jobs

To ensure a supportive business environment, the City

held a Tourism Roundtable to develop relationships

and synergies between the different players, provincial

representatives and other stakeholders. In addition, the City

was a presenter at the Arts Exposed Conference hosted by

the York Region Arts Council, and developed a workshop

series based on the Arts as Business.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

The Economic Development Department continued to move

forward, creating resources that support and promote the

City’s business development initiatives, including:

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) – promotional

materials for the downtown development of the VMC

and a communications program for the new VMC subway

terminal scheduled to open in 2015

Economic Development Strategy Executive Summary

brochure – utilizing QR bar codes to take the reader to

the full Strategy online, it received the 2011 International

Economic Development Marketing Award of Excellence

Vaughan e-Business Link, electronic newsletter – received

the 2011 International Economic Development Marketing

Award of Excellence

Enhanced Business Directory – data analysis on more than

9,000 businesses distributed in a USB fl ash drive format

with interactive features

Foreign Business Development multi-platform marketing

collateral – print publications, website and USB fl ash drive

Synchronist Business Information – competitive business

intelligence tool that will assist with the delivery of seamless

business assistance

These business resources are available for your use, please

contact the Economic Development Department at 905-832-8585.

EconomicDevelopmentStrategyA MAINSTREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT

Kleinburg

kleinburg experience | investment ready | recreation paradise

Small Business 2011 In Review.

VAUGHAN IS AN INTEGRAL HUB FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre (VBEC) accounted for

approximately 10% of all of Ontario’s business consultations across the

Small Business Enterprise Centre’s network of 57 offi ces. From the period

of January to November 30, 2011, VBEC assisted 1,187 business owners

during one-on-one consultations. This led to the start-up of 466 new

businesses and expansions, resulting in 888 jobs being created in Vaughan.

During this time, more than 53 seminars and events were offered to the

small business community with 4,654 participants taking advantage of

popular seminars in social media, sales and marketing, business planning

and fi nancial accounting.

VBEC expanded its programming for business and entrepreneurs by

building upon its partnership-based model. VBEC developed strategic

partnerships with community-based organizations (COSTI, Human

Endeavours /EPIC) as well as the Region of York, PowerStream and the

Vaughan Chamber of Commerce.

VBEC also established a presence with York University by offering

seminars and workshops on Entrepreneurship in Business and Arts.

VBEC actively participates within the community to foster youth

entrepreneurship and Summer Company initiatives.

VBEC attended 15 youth (ages 15-29) activities, reaching out to more

than 2,700 participants.

Fifteen youth entrepreneurs earned revenue and provincial grants

totaling $150,000.

VBEC’S Summer Company, Kinghaven Energy Consultants, completed

23 successful grants for companies in the solar industry totaling in

excess of $500,000.

Building Statistics.

Construction Activity Updates

As we approach the end of 2011, building activity has again been extraordinary

during an unstable economic time. Through November, permits are

nearing $1 billion ($957.5 million year-to-date) and the City’s growth in its

institutional sector continues to remain strong, with construction increased

from $70.6 million in 2010 to $268.5 million as of November, 2011.

The demand for industrial real estate has slowed since the beginning of

2011 when comparing quarterly numbers, according to Colliers’ Fall 2011

Industrial Market Overview for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This market

trend is refl ected in the City’s industrial construction decline to $77.1

million from $110.9 million in 2010.

The forecast by Colliers anticipates a slower rate of decline for available

industrial supply but expects that quoted average rents will be sustained

above $5.00 per sq.ft.

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1000

$1200

$1400

$1600

2011 (YTD Nov. 30)

2010200920082007200620052004200320022001

MiscellaneousInstitutionalIndustrialCommercialResidential

$1,151$1,119

$1,056

$890$837

$1,306

$1,601

$1,026 $1,050

$1,406

$957

ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY ANALYSIS: 2001 - 2011 (YTD NOV. 30)

BASED UPON VALUE OF ISSUED BUILDING PERMITS ($ MILLIONS)

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY BASED UPON VALUE OF ISSUED BUILDING PERMITS ($ MILLIONS)

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION 2011 (YTD Nov. 30, 2011)

Residential $541.3

Commercial $65.7

Industrial $77.1

Institutional $268.5

Miscellaneous $4.7

TOTAL $957.5

# of Permits 5,025

Source: City of Vaughan, Building Standards Department, December 1, 2011

VBEC SERVICES 2010 2011

Consultations 773 1187

Jobs Created 780 888

New Business and Expansion 428 466

Seminars and Event Activities 73 53

Total General Outreach Attendance 2,379 4,654

General Inquiries 34,637 23,834

Wholesale/Distributions: 3%

Technology: 2%

Service: 56%

Retail: 10%

Manufacturing: 4%

Hosptality/Foods: 9%

Construction: 13%

Import/Export: 3%

VBEC CONSULTATIONS BY SECTOR 2011(Year-to-Date: November 30, 2011)

Vaughan is in a very strong fi nancial position and offers value to

its residential and business communities by providing some of the

lowest property taxes in the Greater Toronto Area while providing

quality community services.

As Vaughan moves forward, fi nancial sustainability continues

to be one of our key priorities. Over the next decade, the City

of Vaughan is expected to undergo a tremendous transformation

fueled by sustained high growth rates, provincially driven

intensifi cation and a number of vision-based master plans refl ecting

important community needs. Recognizing the challenges that

lay ahead and building on the fi nancial planning efforts, the City’s

budget continues to incorporate a future focus, providing citizens

with more certainty about the direction of City

services, fi nances and tax levels.

For several years, the City’s rigorous budgetary

process has focused on containing costs and

implementing best practices with the goal of

developing realistic and responsible fi nancial

plans. This year’s budget will continue to build

on those core values and successful business

practices while incorporating the City’s new

multi-year budget planning process.

Public consultation is integral to building the

City’s budget. For this reason, all the City’s Finance

and Administration Committee meetings are

open to the public. Community comments

and input regarding the budget are received by

Members of Council during budget deliberations.

Listed below are the City’s 2011 Finance and

Administration Committee meeting dates that

were dedicated to budget process related topics:

November 21, Operating Budget

November 28, Capital Budget

December 5, General Items

December 13, Program Review

There are two remaining dates for budget

meetings in January 2012:

January 16, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., User Fees

In addition, a Special Council meeting will

be scheduled in late January, before budget

approval, to provide the public with a fi nal

opportunity to comment on the budget.

The budget meetings will be held at Vaughan

City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., in Committee

Room 242/243.

For more information or to view proposed

budget documents and presentations, visit the

Budget and Financial Planning Department’s

web page, Public Meetings, www.vaughan.ca

Business Bulletin.

CAN YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE A DISASTER?

Can your business survive a major emergency

or business interruption due to fi re, explosion,

chemical leak, fl ooding, cyber attack or other

natural, human-caused or technological event?

Do you and your employees know what to do

when a tornado or earthquake occurs? Do you

have a plan?

The Vaughan Emergency Planning program can

guide you in developing an emergency plan and

continuity of operations. The plan will help you,

your employees and your company manage any

type of emergency. A disaster resilient business

community is the primary goal.

For more information, contact the Emergency

Planning program at 905-832-8585 ext. 6322

or by email at PrepE@vaughan.ca

INTERNET STRATEGY: MAKE THE INTERNET PAY OFF FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Today, the internet is less about you fi nding

buyers and more about buyers fi nding you.

Without an effective underlying strategy, your

website will not produce the results you want.

Printed in Canada © City of Vaughan 2011

CITY OF VAUGHAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT2141 Major Mackenzie Drive, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada L6A 1T1 tel: 905-832-8585 email: ecdev@vaughan.ca www.vaughan.ca

STAY INFORMED.Subscribe to the Economic Development e-News!

Send an email with the subject line “Sign me up for e-News!” to ecdev@vaughan.ca

PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS INTEGRAL TO BUILDING THE CITY’S BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PLANS

Visual appeal alone is no longer enough −

whether you want to sell online, generate leads,

support customers or provide information.

The experienced internet specialists at BDC

Consulting will work with you to develop

a custom internet strategy to:

Increase your web traffi c

Improve the quality of visitors as potential

customers

Boost the percentage of visitors who respond

to a call to action

Differentiate your online presence to be more

competitive

Build trust and credibility

BDC specialists can also develop the project

specifi cations to build or update your website

and create an e-marketing plan to include

a social media and lead-nurturing plan.

BDC can help show you how a strategic investment

in online services can go a long way! BDC fi nancing

is available to those who qualify.

For more information, contact Justin Montano,

Partner, Consulting Business Development

Bank of Canada at 905-264-2108 or by email

at Justin.Montano@bdc.ca

10BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS

EXPOVAUGHAN

th

FEBRUARY 8, 20128:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

TERRACE BANQUET HALL1680 CREDITSTONE ROAD, VAUGHAN

President, EPC Group

Removing Roadblocks to Grow

Your Business

Trent ArendseBranch Manager,

Robert Half

Andrew GuidoPresident, iQuest Inc.

Growing Your

for Success

IS YOURBUSINESS GOING INTHE RIGHT DIRECTION?

TRADE SHOW BOOTH COST

$100 EA. + HST

PRICE INCLUDES:

and Expo Directory

admission

PARTICIPANT COST

$75 EA. + HST

PRICE INCLUDES:

Conference admission

To register and for more information, contact the Vaughan Business Enterprise

Centre (VBEC) at 905-832-8526 or by email at VBEC@vaughan.ca

Visit www.vaughan.ca/VBEC