A local business development group says Windsor-Essex is seeing businesses coming in.
Stephen MacKenzie, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation, presented his 2017 progress report on economic development to the executive committee of Windsor City Council Monday night. In it, he discussed a large number of businesses that have set up shop and expanded in Windsor-Essex so far this year.
MacKenzie has been on the job for about a year, following the resignation of Sandra Pupatello. He told council that he is proud of the work the corporation has done with businesses within the city of Windsor alone.
"To date, in 2017, we've dealt with 1,808 clients," said MacKenzie. "1,213 of those clients have been domiciled in Windsor."
He also told councillors that so far this year, that 118 businesses have been established in the county, with 76 of them in Windsor.
"I'm happy to report that so far in Windsor-Essex, 100 entrepreneurs have said they've expanded and 59 of those were within Windsor," he said.
This encouraging economic news is coming as several key developments have arisen in local economic development. The city had announced this summer they were trying to woo a German auto-parts supplier to Windsor, though details have not been publicly disclosed.
Less than two weeks ago, the City of Windsor confirmed that it was working out a joint bid with Detroit to lure Amazon's secondary headquarters to the region, which would have the potential to create up to 50,000 jobs. Due to a current media blackout, the progress of that bid is not known.
MacKenzie also told council that nine brand-new businesses have set up shop in Windsor-Essex this year, with six of them in the city. This does not include the $600-million commitment made by Ford Canada to invest in its Windsor engine plant.
MacKenzie said the WEEDC is looking ahead to see where politics in both Canada and the United States end up, namely with ongoing NAFTA talks.
"We've decided to form a NAFTA working group with all of the different organizations, the Chamber [of Commerce], the university, the college to track and make sure we're going to be able to respond and advise our companies accordingly," said MacKenzie.
