In recent years Ontario has been part of a global economic transformation leading to the rise of the ‘creative economy’ – an economy driven by knowledge, innovation and by people paid to think. The creative economy underlies all industries including manufacturing and agriculture and is as much about architects, entrepreneurs and programmers as it is about potters, artists and entertainers.
• The creative economy employs 35% of the workforce in Ontario but pays 51% of the wages.
• Nearly 1/4 of all occupations in Elgin are considered creative.
Elgin County’s great outdoors, small town and rural charm and warm people offer wonderful lifestyle qualities that the creative class desires.
Elgin County straddles the Toronto-Buffalo mega region- the largest economy in Canada and the 5th largest in North America, as well as the Chicago-Pittsburg region the 2nd largest in North America. This geographic position presents tremendous mega-region trading opportunities in the new creative economy.
Elgin County is home to several support services including the Elgin St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre and the Innovation Centre for Entrepreneurs that are designed to help creative entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and thrive through business counseling and planning, access to government funding and community networking opportunities.
Straddling two mega regions, creative potential and prosperity is right at Elgin’s finger tips. Elgin County’s quality of place, combined with its strategic location and creative economy base, positions it very well to grow and excel at building the creative economy.
Success Stories
Redding Designs
Redding Designs offers fully -customized website design, wordpress design, graphic design for print materials, custom logo and brand design, business card design, website hosting services, e-mail hosting and support services, social media account management and Search Engine Optimization.
Sportswood Printing
Sportswood Printing is a leading full-service printing company in southwestern Ontario offering design, press, finishing, and wide-format printing services. Surrounded by rolling vistas just 15 minutes from the Lake Erie shore, Sportswood Printing is located in the Ontario hamlet of Straffordville, which is nestled in a valley south of London and St. Thomas between Aylmer and Tillsonburg, near the Lake Erie shore.
The Aylmer Express Graphics Group
AE Graphics Group a diverse group of printing operations, mail house, letter shop and fulfillment companies located throughout Ontario.
AE Graphics Group is the branding for all print and design related divisions and locations of the business, while AE Media encompasses The Aylmer Express newspaper and several other in-house publications.
Blackcat Concepts
Blackcat Concepts is a print, design, and web company owned and operated by Lynnsey Gheysen Murray and David Murray. The pair are skilled in a range of graphic design work including logo design, branding and the design of print materials. They offer printing services as well to save clients the trouble of searching for a printer and arranging for delivery. They are also skilled web designers who will create and build websites for their clients and offer a full package that includes regular maintenance, domain registration and hosting services. The business has recently begun to offer 3D drawing services to clients who need realistic renderings of a CAD files, floor plans or 2D photographs.
Do you own a creative enterprise? Would you like to be featured on our website? Contact info@elgin.ca.