CORNWALL, Ontario – The United Counties opted to show their support for the Cornwall Innovation Centre (CIC) on Tuesday, Feb. 19 prior to the annual budget meeting.
Following a presentation and funding request from Martha Woods of the Eastern Ontario Training Board and Lesley Thompson of Cornwall & Counties Future Development Corp. (CFDC), council voted to fund $50,000 to the centre for 2019. Although the presentation requested the Counties match Cornwall City Council’s contribution of $50,000 every year for the next ten years, Woods and Thompson were satisfied with the initial support they received.
“We were happy to hear that council allotted the $50,000 for the first year. Of course, we are going to revisit that for the subsequent years,” said Woods. “Although council has questions, I appreciate the fact they could initially see the benefits of what this is going to become…and we will go back to them when the time comes next year and be able to validate that their investment was a good one.”
Woods explained that funding for the CIC would continue to support work being done through the Ontario Emerging Jobs Institute (OEJI), which launched earlier this year. The institute, which offers four streams of education (agritech, digital, business and blended learning skills), strives to build mentorship and partnership programs to enhance the economic and workforce development in Cornwall and SDG.
“We want to see that institute continue…this is a very positive thing for our region as a whole,” said Woods. “The economic impact, the workforce impact this is going to have in our area is huge.”
The CIC is hoping to receive additional funding for initiatives like OEJI through support programs such as FedDev. OEJI initially launched through a provincial Skills Catalyst Funding grant with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Woods is confident that the potential of the centre will be realized, especially with support from SDG and Cornwall council, as well as various other community partners like RBC, Duncan MacDonald and Welch LLP.
SDG Council initially held mixed feelings following the presentation. Mayor Bryan McGillis of South Stormont was one of three to vote against the funding request.
“There were no measures, no numbers presented,” said McGillis. “Their presentation was weak…they didn’t provide a lot of information. I didn’t know a lot about it (the CIC and OEJI) before, and after they left I (still) didn’t know what they were doing. They’re going to come back and provide us with more information, which I would be happy to listen to. We are talking about people’s tax dollars (at stake) and we have got to make sure we know where it’s going.”
Carma Williams, Deputy Mayor of North Glengarry, proposed one funding installment to the CIC as she could see immense program potential.
“I think the OEJI is an initiative that has enormous potential and is responding to actual industry needs and demands,” said Williams. “It’s important not to shut the door on this initiative right off the bat but to give some initial support…allowing them to demonstrate the support they need to the federal government for significant funding.”
“I didn’t think it was prudent to tie the counties up in a ten-year commitment when we still don’t have enough information,” she added. “It’s important to take a balanced approach…they have a year to get a further, solid business plan, including a budget, outline who are the sponsors, what are they putting into it…and (demonstrate) how will they will make the project stand on its own.”
