Belleville Economic Development Committee

The Economic Development Committee (EC) provides strategic recommendations to City Council regarding the resources required to support investment attraction, business growth and retention, tourism and economic development issues management. 

The EDC provides the Economic Development Division staff with information and input on issues and projects of particular importance to the local economy.  The committee is currently developing a 5-year Economic Development Strategic Plan for Council’s approval and launching an Industrial Sector BR+E.

Meetings

Meetings

Agendas

Minutes

Meeting minutes are missing for the following Economic Development Committee meetings:

• January 18, 2024
• May 16, 2024

Members

As of August 12, 2024, the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC) consists of:

1. His Worship Mayor Neil Ellis
2. Councillor Tyler Allsopp
3. Councillor Paul Carr, Alternate
4. Ross Rae has served on numerous Boards and Committees, including the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC), Belleville General Hospital Foundation, Belleville Planning Advisory Committee, Loyalist College Advisory Board, and many more.
5. Robert Stokes, President of Stegg, manufacturer of precision-machined components based in Belleville.

Ten to twelve (10-12) voting members consisting of:

• 4 councillors (1 vote each) (One of which is the Chair of the BRE Committee)
• 6 – 8 Citizen Representatives (1 vote each) from:
  • 1 Member from the Belleville Chamber of Commerce
  • 1 Member representing Loyalist College, resident of Belleville
  • 1 Member from the Accommodations Sector
  • 1 member from the Belleville Downtown Improvement Area
  • 2–4 citizen members reflecting the diversity of the local economy and core function/mandate of the Economic Development Department.

Non- Voting Members – to attend on an as requested/needed basis

• Quinte Home Builders Association
• Quinte and District Association of Realtors
• Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board
• Quinte Economic Development Commission
• Centre for Workforce Development
• Quinte Arts Council

Work

Business Growth and Retention

The Business Growth and Retention program activities drive job creation, increase tax revenues and attract outside investment. By fostering a supportive environment conducive to business growth and retention, the City can sustain a healthy local economy, enhance the standard of living for residents, and promote overall prosperity within the community, which in turn ensures long-term fiscal stability.

Loyalist College

Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board

Centre for Workforce Development

Terms of Reference

The Economic Development Committee is an advisory Committee of Council tasked with a mandate to establish, periodically review, amend and recommend a strategic plan for economic development in Belleville to guide long and short-term development, providing policy leadership and support as well as industry support to both Council and the City of Belleville with their efforts to attract investment, sustain employment, support focussed sector development, business growth and retention and economic development issues management in the City of Belleville by:

• Partnering with various partners that carry out these services in Belleville, evaluating and listening to the entire industry.
• Creating goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) including possibly: household income targets, jobs and employment target levels, visitor traffic and experience targets, newcomer settlement and experience targets, construction investment targets, business investment targets and economic impact indicators.
• Making recommendations to Council regarding projects and initiatives that would advance tourism marketing and product development initiatives in accordance with the MAT legislation.
• Regularly collecting and analyzing data on the local and regional economy, economic development activities, reports on KPI outcomes to encourage evidence-based decisions.
• Reporting to Municipal Council monthly or more frequently if required on the activities of Economic Development.
• Identifying and implementing a short, medium, and long-term work plan which the City can support.
• Attracting and retaining business investment to the community based on BR&E Subcommittee and industry comments and representation.
• Focusing on Economic Development priorities through three possible sub-committees:
  • Tourism Development, which will include an operational plan specific to marketing, promotion, and visitor services to the City of Belleville, and will make recommendations for use of Municipal Accommodations Tax (MAT) funds.
  • Innovation, building and supporting innovation including an operational plan specific to entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business development.
  • Labour Market, support and/or implement immigration and local labour market development initiatives, including labour and workforce needs and development and attraction.
• Identifying any economic development issues or barriers to development including strategies on possible recessions and post-secondary skills development.
• Networking with government agencies and those participating in regional economic planning where appropriate, including Bay of Quinte, and Eastern Ontario, to ensure the efforts of other organizations are not duplicated.
• Support staff’s implementation of the City’s BR&E program by:
  • Striking a BR&E Taskforce when required to support a BRE study
  • Follow up on former BR&E reports to ensure issues raised and actions recommended have been or are being dealt with
  • Recommend and implement the ongoing BR&E survey work plan
  • Recommend actions or policies to Council related to the results of the BR&E program