Airbus Flying High in Fort Erie — and Around the World

Just a few months ago, the first Airbus H145 helicopter to be delivered in Canada arrived at the RCMP’s base in Vancouver. Why is that news in Niagara? Well, because the state-of-the-art helicopter — which allows the RCMP to operate day and night, over land or water, and conduct fast roping and hoisting, medical evacuations and search and rescue operations — was manufactured, assembled and painted in Fort Erie.

While Airbus is a global company with offices in almost every country around the world, most people in Niagara don’t realize that the Canadian headquarters is located in Fort Erie, employs nearly 300 people and is celebrating 35 years of operations.

Read more in the Niagara Independent

Niagara-on-the-Lake Grocery Store Gets Green Light

A new grocery store in Niagara-on-the-Lake is a go. John Hawley, president of Traditional Neighbourhood Developments Inc., said the company got the green light to proceed with the development near Garrison Village on May 7.

The grocery store is planned to be part of a larger development on the seven acres of land located at the corner of Niven and Niagara Stone roads. The project will also include a boutique 60-unit hotel, a restaurant, a performance centre with 300 to 400 seats, as well as a number of retail shops in and around the hotel.

Read more in Niagara Now

Bell Expands Broadband Internet Service in the Niagara Region

On June 3, Bell announced the expansion of broadband wireless home internet to communities and rural areas in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Now available to eligible residences in Fort Erie, Grimsby, Lincoln, Niagara Falls, Pelham, St. Catharines, Thorold, Wainfleet, Welland and West Lincoln, Bell’s innovative high-speed internet service will soon arrive in Port Colborne as well.

Bell’s wireless home internet is delivered over their advanced LTE wireless network in the 3500 MHz spectrum band. The new 5G-capable technology is designed to extend broadband Internet access to smaller towns, rural locations and other underserved communities.

Read more

Employment Inventory Survey Returns for 2019

Niagara Region is conducting its annual inventory of local employers. Employment inventories are considered a best practice in other GTA communities. It’s a strategy Niagara is adopting to improve our global competitiveness.

Until August 30, representatives from Niagara Region will be conducting in-person surveys with businesses across Niagara. Results from the survey will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of Niagara’s current employment landscape by providing reliable data on employment numbers, types of employment and job or industry locations.

Sign up for the survey or Download the drop-off survey

New Horizons for Seniors Program Open for Proposals

The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects designed by and for seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

This application process is intended to fund projects up to $25,000 that are led or inspired by seniors, volunteer-based and supported by their communities. This program is complemented by a range of policies, programs and services targeted at seniors, such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and the National Seniors Council.

Find out more

Niagara Music Gives Fundraiser Returns for 2019

The Niagara Conservatory of Music and sponsor Marz Homes will be putting on the 5th annual Music Gives fundraising event at Polonia Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Saturday, June 22. The festival starts at noon with music until 8:00pm.

All monies raised from the event will go towards the Music Gives program, which has donated more than $90,000 in music lessons, instruments, and outreach to students both in schools and at homes since the program’s creation in 2015.

Find out more

Conteh: Engaging the Next Frontier of Manufacturing in Niagara

From the economic decimation of cataclysmic plant closures, layoffs and a massive spike in poverty some 20 years ago, Niagara has moved to seeing positive trends in manufacturing in recent years.

The manufacturing upswing is not a temporary glitch but is grounded in a growth trend that reflects a diverse range of emerging knowledge-intensive and innovation-driven sectors such as transportation equipment, fabricated metal products, food and beverage, machinery and furniture and the like.

Read more in the St. Catharines Standard

Canada to Help Small Businesses Invest in Energy-Saving Equipment and Retrofits

Canadians are fighting climate change because they know a healthy environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. Climate action presents a global economic opportunity representing $26 trillion and 65 million jobs. Energy efficiency reduces energy costs and helps people save money.

Recognizing that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, the Government of Canada has reduced the small business tax rate to nine per cent, making it the lowest among G7 countries. Significant new investments are also planned to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce pollution, save energy and boost productivity.

Read more

Niagara College President Dr. Dan Patterson to Conclude Tenure in June 2020

President Dr. Dan Patterson, the dynamic, visionary and tireless leader of Niagara College, has advised the Board of Governors that he will conclude his tenure as Niagara College president when his current term ends on June 30, 2020.

While he remains as passionate and energized about Niagara College as he was at the beginning of his presidency almost 25 years ago, Dan has indicated that he feels it is the right time to make a change, knowing the college is in a strong place and well positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Read more

If you’re thinking of adding group benefits to your company, there are a lot of good reasons to put your Chamber membership to work for you. Not the least is exclusivity: only members have access to the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan®.

To contact your local insurance rep, call Jim Garrett or Cindy Haines at 905-468-8575

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MEMBER 2 MEMBER SAVINGS PROGRAM

Many other Chamber of Commerce members feature discounts and special offers — tailored specifically for other GNCC members. Check out the full Member 2 Member database. If you’d like to add an offer for your company, sign in to your account. You can add and update your offer any time you wish.

BUSINESS SAVINGS PROGRAMS

The GNCC offers many business resources that are regionally, provincially or nationally endorsed – programs offered to Chamber Members through the OCC (Ontario Chamber of Commerce) or the CCC (Canadian Chamber of Commerce). Affinity programs include the Chamber Group Insurance, FedEx savings, Gales Gas discounts, Desjardins payroll service, Chase Paymentech and FirstData merchant services, etc. For more information click HERE.

If your organization is interested in partnering with the GNCC on an affinity program, please feel free to reach out to Mishka Balsom, CEO, at mishka@gncc.ca.

GNCC REFERRAL PROGRAM

From the beginning, the GNCC has grown because of your word-of-mouth support.

This Referral Program is our way of saying thanks.

Get your choice of a $25 Starbucks Gift Card for every new member you refer and who joins the Chamber -OR- $50 in GNCC Cash for every new member you refer and joins the Chamber towards GNCC ads, sponsorship or event tickets.

More program information HERE.