Tue, 30 Oct 2012
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has awarded a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award to the Town of Oakville for its 2011 Economic Development Annual Report. The honour was announced at an awards ceremony during the IEDC Annual Conference in Houston, Texas on October 2, 2012.
“We’re very proud to be recognized by the IEDC as an economic development leader,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “The hard work of our business community and Economic Development staff ensures that Oakville is positioned as the choice location for successful businesses.”
The Town of Oakville 2011 Economic Development Annual Report is a comprehensive summary of development activity over the past year. It highlights various local companies, Oakville’s competitive position — relative to 25 area municipalities, economic development initiatives, and a look at development into 2012.
"We recognize the Town of Oakville for creating innovative and successful strategies to promote economic development in this period of global recovery,” said Jay Moon, IEDC chair. “Our awards honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in communities. The Town of Oakville demonstrates that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using cutting-edge, effective practices that can be replicated in other communities."
This annual report was initially conceived as a reporting tool for Council, but it has become a key resource for potential investors.
“Oakville has a dynamic cluster of businesses supporting innovation and growth and is a location of choice for over 300 national and international corporate headquarters,” said Dorothy St. George, director, Economic Development for the Town of Oakville. “Just recently, we welcomed Siemens Canada, Canadian Tire Financial Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers to our community.”
The town is also home to Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning — named in 2012 as the top post-secondary school in the world for digital animation. Digital media and animation is one of the four major industry sectors shaping Oakville’s economic development strategy; the other three include professional and financial services, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honour organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Dorothy St. George
Director, Economic Development
Town of Oakville
905-338-4240
dstgeorge@oakville.ca
Mary Jo Milhomens
Senior Communications Advisor
Town of Oakville
905-338-4244
mmilhomens@oakville.ca