BUSINESS RETENTION and expansion

Business development and job creation are important to a community’s health and vitality. The Business Retention and Expansion program (BR+E) helps communities identify obstacles to success as well as opportunities for local businesses to grow.

Our ministry, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, assists the Community Project Coordinator to develop strategic actions that support local business development.  This is accomplished through a series of specific surveys of the different sectors in the business community. 

Program Coordinator funding may be available through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Rural Economic Development Program.

In 1997, BR+E was introduced on a pilot basis in 10 rural communities in southern and Northern Ontario. Since then, nearly 100 community BR+E projects have been implemented using the BR+E resources. In Northern Ontario, both large and small communities, such as the City of Greater Sudbury, Parry Sound and Wawa, have put projects into action.

The results of BR+E projects have been impressive:

• development of a more business-friendly attitude
• new local investment
• creation of more jobs
• fewer barriers to development
• easier access to financing

Learn More

Get more information about BR+E from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

 

BR+E certified consultants

 

Northeastern Ontario
Parry Sound Area Larry Taylor Phone: (705) 773-4217 Fax: (705) 746-8828 larry.taylor@ontario.ca	Cochrane Area Joanne Coulombe Phone: (705) 372-2210 Fax: (705) 372-2391 joanne.coulombe@ontario.ca
Manitoulin and Sudbury Area Esther Taylor-Smith Phone: (705) 282-2043 Fax: (705) 282-2792 esther.taylor-smith@ontario.ca	Timiskaming Area Richard Le Clerc Phone: (705) 568-4514 Fax: (705) 568-4515 richard.leclerc@ontario.ca
Algoma Area Cathy Jensen Phone: (705) 356-2234 ext. 257 Fax: (705) 356-7441 cathy.jensen@ontario.ca
Northwestern Ontario
Rainy River Area Jane Gillon Phone: (807) 274-5320 Fax: (807) 274-4438 jane.gillon@ontario.ca	Thunder Bay Area Colin Kelly Phone: (807) 475-1568 Fax: (807) 475-1589 colin.kelly@ontario.ca
Thunder Bay Area Jeff Dicaire Phone: (807) 229-1154 Fax: (807) 229-1592 jeff.dicaire@ontario.ca	Thunder Bay Area Guylene Levesque Phone: (807) 854-0267 Fax: (807) 854-0335 guylene.levesque@ontario.ca

Do You Have Questions?

Talk to one of our northern development professionals. They live and work in communities across Northern Ontario. They understand your needs.