February 2017 | Business View Magazine

198 199 Brockville, Ontario ville’s Economic Development Director. “In fact, at one time, we used to call ourselves ‘Canada’s Fortune 500 Community,’ because we had, on a per capita basis, more Fortune 500 companies than any other place in Canada.” However, like many other North American industrial cities over the last ten or fifteen years, Brockville has witnessed the loss of some of its industrial base as companies moved to places such as China and Mexico, in search of cheaper labor. In attracting new industry to replace the old, which is the main function of Brockville’s Eco- nomic Development Office, Paul says, “We sort of fish where the fish are.We go to a lot of the key trade shows and conferences where busi- nesses are actually looking.We interact with site locators, trade commissioners, and gov- ernment officials that are seeking locations for their clients.We’re using a lot of digital mar- keting, now.We also use lead generating com- panies to seek out and set up interviews and meetings.When we go to the States or abroad, we go under the banner of an Eastern Ontario initiative, and then we work collaboratively. The best community will win in terms of what its offerings are and what needs can be addressed in that community.” Paul says that, in its outreach, Brockville is focusing on some very specific sectors, such as logistics and food processing. “Because of some of the trends associated with those sectors, we found that we’re a very good area and have the labor force and skills to meet their requirements,” he explains. “Brockville has a high ‘creative economy’; the level of skilled labor and the level of education are very high, here. And if you’re trying to sell your community to business people, those attributes rise high on the radar screen. And, like most communities, we’re offering incentives.We try to do as much as we can do to provide a gold-class standard of customer service.” Brockville is also looking at other ways of building and diversifying its economy, and Paul says that tourism is playing a significant role. The town touts itself as one of the world’s best freshwater scuba diving destinations,