Elgin BR+E

elgin county's Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) Program

Where Business and Community Grow Together

 

Introduction

Welcome to Elgin County's Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) Program! This initiative is designed to support our local businesses, recognizing that they are the cornerstone of our community's success. Through meeting business owners at their location for a confidential meeting, our goal is to understand their challenges and opportunities, offer support, and gather their insights on how we can better support their operations in future. 

Benefits for Businesses

By participating in this program, business owners can: 

1. Receive Support: If they are facing operational challenges or planning significant changes.

2. Unlock Resources: Learn about resources at the federal, provincial, and local levels to enhance business operations.

3. Share Insights: Contribute to data that will help our department assess the health and needs of our business landscape. This information will be used to craft annual reports, including goals and action plans, to better serve our business community. These reports are shared publicly to ensure transparency, without revealing identifying information.

Eligibility

Our BR+E program is currently open to all businesses operating in the County of Elgin. 

Book Now

Click the link below to schedule your meeting: 

https://calendar.app.google/DqU6i8qH7f6Sga5h6  

 

Program Coordinator

Meet Abigail Moore, our dedicated Business Enterprise Facilitator for the County of Elgin. She leads our efforts, coordinates business visits, administers surveys, and manages data. Abigail holds a degree in business, possesses firsthand experience in business ownership, and places a high value on excellent customer service. She is here to support you, backed by a dedicated leadership team and resource network. 

 

Leadership Team 

Our Leadership Team ensures this program benefits all communities across our region. They provide guidance, champion the program within their communities, assist in addressing concerns and opportunities, and contribute to the development and implementation of our annual goals and action plans. Meet our esteemed leaders:

Name Title Representing
Andy Grozelle                                        Chief Administrative Office Town of Aylmer                       
Thomas Thayer Chief Administrative Officer Municipality of Bayham
Ed Ketchabaw Mayor and Warden of Elgin County Municipality of Bayham
Robin Greenall Chief Administrative Officer Municipality of Central Elgin
Tracy Johnson Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer Municipality of Dutton Dunwich
Henry Dryfhout Councillor and Chair of the Dutton Dunwich Economic Development Committee Municipality of Dutton Dunwich               
Nathan Dias Chief Administrative Officer Township of Malahide                                                  
Lisa Higgs Chief Administrative Officer Township of Southwold
Justin Pennings Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Southwold Economic Development Committee Township of Southwold
Magda Badura Chief Administrative Officer Municipality of West Elgin

 

Resource Network

Last but not least, our Resource Network is a dynamic team of industry experts that assist in addressing immediate concerns and opportunities and implementing action plans, including municipal staff, community organizations, and professionals in various fields. They are here to support you on your business journey.

If you would like to join this network, please contact Abigail:

In the short term, we aim to:

  • Strenghten relationships with our existing businesses.
  • Address immediate concerns and opportunities.
  • Gather vital business market data.
  • Identify our community's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Develop and implement tailored action plans.

In the long-term, we're focused on:

  • Boosting the competitiveness of our existing businesses.
  • Fostering sustainable development.
  • Creating new job opportunities.

1. How long will the meeting be?

  • 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the depth of discussions.

 

2. What type of questions will be asked during the meeting?

  • We will ask several questions about the following topics: 
    • Business Information 
    • Business Climate
    • Workforce
    • Future Plans 
    • Community Development
  • You can skip any questions skip any questions you're not comfortable answering.

 

3. Who will be present at my meeting?

  • You will meet with either Abigail, Business Enterprise Facilitator, or Carolyn, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism from the County of Elgin. If available, members from the Leadership Team from your municipality may also join. However, a maximum of three individuals will be present. We understand that preferences vary, and if you have any concerns, you can always request meeting with different or fewer people. Your comfort and satisfaction are our priority.

 

4. How will you ensure confidentiality?

  • Everyone involved in the program has signed confidentiality agreements and is committed to this principle. All meeting notes are assigned a file number, marked confidential, and stored in a folder that only Elgin County economic development staff have access to. All identifying information will be removed for the final strategic report.