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| Luck Be a Lady Tonight. Brampton
Board of Trade President Linda Ford is flanked by
BBOT Events Coordinator Mary Ann Eddy, left and
Gala Chair Lori Robinson as they get ready for Viva!
Las Vegas on April 11, the annual BBOT President’s
Gala. |
Get ready for a spectacular evening of great food and
entertainment says Chair Lori Robinson. “We have a great
line-up including Vegas-style entertainment. And we
have chips by the hundreds for people who want to try
a game of chance, for fun of course.” >click here
to read on
The evening includes dinner and dance to the sounds
of Lost Vegas as well as Brampton’s largest Silent Auction.
Mo D, one of Canada’s newest media personalities, will
MC for the evening and orchestrate the Live Auction.
“We have a special guest booked for the night, but
we are not saying who it is because we want it to be
a surprise. And what would a Vegas show be without costumes
and dancing,” says Robinson.
RBC Royal Bank is the title sponsor. Entertainment
is sponsored by Bell and Ken Hay Photography will provide
a complimentary photo of attending guests. The complimentary
Martini Bar, always a star attraction is provided courtesy
of The Staffing Edge and Jake’s Boathouse. Event management
services have been provided by Brampton Board of Trade
member Élan Cachet.
Tickets are $125 a person and are available online
at www.bramptonbot.com. Reservations made before March
21 are eligible for an early bird draw that includes
a tuxedo rental from Tuxedo Royale, a gentlemen or ladies
hairstyle and makeover from Salon Spa One Eleven, a
limousine ride to and from the Gala from Bramalea Superb
Limousine Livery Service Inc. and a portrait from Ken
Hay Photography.
Viva Las Vegas will be staged at The Mississauga Convention
Centre, 75 Derry Road West. Prize donations for the
silent auction can be made by calling 905 451 1122.
New office for the downtown provides focus for development
Brampton city council has created a special office
focused on the historic Downtown and the Queen Street
corridor.
The Central Area Economic Development Program will
provide a central point of contact and business information
to promote the Central Area’s unique selling position
to investors.
Karen Campbell, President of the Brampton Downtown
Development Corporation says the creation of this new
office illustrates the priority city council places
on the Central area.
“A single point of contact allows us to liaise on
a wide-range of issues related to the Downtown. It demonstrates
in a formal way the support City Council has for the
Central corridor and its importance to the city. We
look forward to working closely in a collaborative way
with city staff.”
Council has approved hiring a permanent full-time advisor
as a Program Manager this year with an annual operating
budget of about $225,000. The office will also have
a research assistant and a marketing budget of $50,000.
Space has been allocated within the Economic Development
Office at 33 Queen Street.
The advisor will coordinate attraction, retention and
competitive initiatives associated with the Downtown
and Queen Street Corridor, which runs from Bramalea
Road (in the east) to McLaughlin Road (in the west).
The program will be supported by the “Downtown and
Central Corridor Economic Development Advisory Team”,
represented by political and corridor stakeholders.
The terms of reference for this advisory group have
yet to be determined.
Regional Councillor Elaine Moore, co-chair of the Mayor’s
Roundtable on Downtown and the Queen Street Corridor
says, “this is an office that is intended to get things
done, a focused approach with one point of contact coordinating
all economic development opportunities in the downtown
corridor. This is good for the city and good for potential
investors.”
Roundtable co-chair Bob Nutbrown adds “council has
clearly prioritized the corridor as a destination for
investors. We believe a strong corridor is the spine
of our city and essential part of every great city in
the world. In order for downtown development to take
place, a comprehensive approach has to be taken and
this office offers that opportunity.”
“By raising the profile of the corridor as an attractive
business location in the Brampton marketplace and growing
in the GTA region, we create new opportunities for investment
and jobs, says Brampton Board of Trade CEO Sheldon Leiba.
“We have been a vocal advocate for a strong central
corridor for years. This is good news for Brampton.”
The mandate of the new office includes:
Business Development: Pro-actively present the unique
selling position of the Central Area to target markets
and diligently follow-up and fulfill all generated leads.
Marketing: Create an Economic Development Marketing
Plan, which brands the competitive and comparative advantages
of the business location, and includes the promotion
of incentives contained within the CIP.
Central Information Contact: Undertake market, economic
and social research supporting the economic development
program. This includes inquiry tracking, monitoring
of economic, real estate and market trends and maintaining
key databases. The central point of contact for businesses,
developers, and consultants seeking information on the
Central Corridor.
Competitive Policy Analysis: Provide expert analysis,
comments and recommendations related to infrastructure
planning; development applications/site planning; CIP
policy planning; cost of doing business analysis; bench-mark
best practices; process support and assistance.
Business Visitation: Actively meet with existing businesses
in the Downtown and Central Corridor to offer a linkage
to City of Brampton services and to be a primary technical
contact when a business requires assistance. Maintain
visibility in the business community by attending special
business events in the Central Corridor.
Stakeholder and Government Relations: Maintain positive
relationships and serve as a liaison with the Mayors
Round Table; the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation;
The Brampton Board of Trade; senior staff in City Departments;
Ontario Government Ministries and agencies; and Federal
Departments and related agencies. Prepare policy positions
supporting the Central Area Economic Development mandate.
Communication/Reporting: Regular reporting to the Central
Area Steering Committee including report preparation,
agenda preparation and follow-up on action items. Promote
and foster open communication with clients, staff, Council
and stakeholders.
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