Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC) (or Bay of Quinte Economic Development) a joint local board of member municipalities:
- Belleville
- Brighton
- Quinte West
Founded in 1994, it is an incorporated, not-for-profit regional economic development organization and that provides business investment attraction activities as well as programs to support existing business in our identified industrial target sectors on behalf of its members.
Governance
QEDC’s Board of Directors is appointed by the municipalities of Belleville, Brighton, and Quinte West to provide oversight and governance of the QEDC.
The Board is made up of:
- 1 municipal member of council from each of the 3 municipalities
- 8 business/community leaders selected by the municipalities
As of June 11, 2025 the members are:
- His Worship Mayor Ellis
- Councillor Brown (2024-186)
- Councillor Carr, Alternate
- 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.
- Robert Stokes, President of Stegg, manufacturer of precision-machined components based in Belleville.
QEDC is accountable to the municipalities that provide the funding. Regular board meetings, as well as interaction with municipal staff, provide an opportunity for feedback to QEDC staff, information sharing, and collaboration.
Meetings
- QEDC Annual General meeting minutes?
Purpose
To deliver high-impact regional economic development initiatives based on the strategic consensus and common interests
of member organizations in business retention, expansion and attraction.
Mission
- To encourage the growth and diversification of those industries and commercial businesses now established in the area;
- To market the Quinte Region to attract new sector-targeted firms to locate in the community.
QEDC has a dedicated regional focus on the industrial and technology sectors due to the strong value added and wealth creating benefits from these sectors and the positive impact the retention, expansion and new investment in these sectors creates across other areas of the economy including, retail, service sector, construction, transportation etc.
Our sector focus was identified in the Bay of Quinte Target Market Study created by a third party consultant with input from local stakeholders and industry representatives as well with insight from national and international foreign direct investment specialists, sector experts and site selection consultants.
Vision
To be a model for municipal cooperation in economic development and a “go-to” source for information, insight, assistance and support, both for our member municipalities and existing and prospective industry and commerce with investment in the Quinte region.
Plan
Manufacturing is over 50% of region’s economic output
Industrial land inventory
The previous target market study included recommendations regarding the supply of industrial land in the QEDC member municipalities. The study noted that the responsibility for industrial land supply is within the purview of the QEDC partner municipalities, not the QEDC itself. QEDC will encourage and support municipal partners to investigate and develop further industrial land in their communities. The high level of interest and demand for industrial land further heightens the need for industrial land for future development.
A ‘sufficient’ supply of industrial lands is commonly regarded as a ten-year supply.
QEDC will continue to encourage its municipal partners to develop new industrial land. To continue to grow the economy the Bay of Quinte will need new industrial sites.
Priorities
The strategies of the QEDC follow the recommendations from the previous 2020 target market study, feedback from industry outreach meetings and other industry reports and findings.
QEDC is focused on high-value, wealth-creating sectors including advanced manufacturing, food processing logistics and technology-based companies. Activities include investment attraction initiatives to attract new businesses to the region, as well as support to retain and grow existing target business sectors in the region.
Target markets are advanced manufacturing, food processing, logistics, technology and business services
QEDC’s activities are based on the findings and recommendations of the QEDC Target Market Study and Strategic Plan. The QEDC engaged a consulting firm to conduct a detailed review and make recommendations based on input from local businesses, stakeholders and external resources. The study was released early 2020.
- 2020 Target Market Study
Strategic Plan focuses on supporting and expanding existing businesses
The majority of new jobs in a mature economy like Ontario are created by the entrepreneurs and businesses which are already located here or who are based nearby
Focus on the following elements of the strategy:
- Bay of Quinte Product Development and continually improving the offer to businesses
- Business Retention and Expansion activities to support existing businesses
- Partnership Leverage to make the most of organizations at local, provincial and federal level
- Promotional Activity to spread awareness of the region among influencers and advisors
- FDI Targeting to identify specific growing businesses in target sectors and markets. (In many
- cases, these growing businesses will be Canadian ones looking to expand domestically).
- Strategic Plan?
Recommends member municipalities ensure there is supply of industrial land
- That the current and all future Official Plan reviews include proactive planning of a sufficient supply of strategically located industrial lands over the short, medium and long terms.
- That each municipality formalize their proactive municipal role in an Industrial Land Planning and Development Policy. The purpose of the policy would be to ensure a sufficient (10-year) supply of industrial land. That the preceding policy is implemented by each municipalty through an Industrial Land Planning and Development program.
- Sales policies and procedures for industrial land should address Council’s desire to achieve market value for its lands
- Review and update the QEDC / municipality lead handling protocol.
Competitive comparison details
Access business cost models to compare jurisdictional operating costs of businesses in various sectors as a way to demonstrate the Bay of Quinte Region’s value proposition. The cost comparisons can be used in marketing materials and to provide additional information to clients during the site selection process.
A subsequent call can then be set up and the prospect developed and nurtured through a sales pipeline through to the ultimate success of closure, with a focus on professional persistence and excellent service.
Admin support for Quinte Manufacturers Association and Quinte Technology Association
QEDC provides administrative support for the Quinte Manufacturers Association (QMA) which has been an active and effective association of local manufacturers providing a forum for local industry to: network, share information, develop best practices, and provide a unified voice for local industry.
QEDC to coordinate opportunities for companies to share ideas, best practices, and promote on-going learning for members and employees.
- Deliver “Member Needs Help” online member support system
- Summarize feedback and surveys from plant tours
- Panel discussion
- QMA members support investment attraction efforts by acting as Ambassadors and
Collaboration with Loyalist College
- Share information and opportunities with the Industry Partnership Officer for Manufacturing
- Investigating funding sources that support workforce development with Loyalist as the delivery partner
- Implementation of workforce development strategies including the delivery of Elevate Plus (manufacturing and military) programs
- Committee member of Technology access Centre – Applied Research Centre (Chris)
- Advisory Committee member of sales and marketing program (Vicki)
- Electrical, Manufacturing, Mechatronics Program Advisory Committee (Chris & Mike)
- Promote Loyalist corporate training initiatives and support with Elevate Plus funding
- Link industry to research and projects at Loyalist College
- A Senior representatives from Loyalist College is encouraged to attend QEDC board meeting when they are available
Funding
Funding for QEDC comes from its member municipalities.
- 2025 budget?
The requested 2025 contribution from our member municipalities is calculated using a per capita rate of $4.71, based on the 2021 Census of Population from Statistics Canada. This represents an approximate 3% increase over the 2024 rate of $4.57 per capita. Belleville’s portion was $259,200.
Additional funding is raised through other provincial and federal programs and through the delivery programs including Elevate Plus which supports some of our internal costs to deliver the project. In 2023 non-municipal funding was 83% of the total revenue.
Outside funding is critical in maintaining the current level of staffing and activity however
funding program availability and criteria change over time. These discretionary funding programs can substantially change the QEDC bottom line.
QEDC will attempt to maintain a cash reserve to allow for cash flowing of projects and actives and maintain staff levels in between periods when additional funding is not available. QEDC has successfully maintained its Manufacturing Resource Centre and related staff person for 15 years without the use of municipal funds.
QEDC will continue to cooperate with communities in Eastern Ontario through the Ontario East Economic Development Commission (OEEDC) to leverage funding, share costs and deliver an investment attraction program at the Eastern Ontario level that will benefit the Bay of Quinte region.
Reports
- 2024 Year-End Report?
- 2025 Work Plan?
Contact
- 284B Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, Box 610, Belleville, Ontario K8N 5B3
- (613) 961-7990
- Toll Free: 1-866-961-7990
Trenval leases the QBDC space from Loyalist College and then subleases smaller space within the QBDC to the partners. Loyalist and Trenval are planning short-term upgrades to the centre.
